IS AFGHANISTAN A NARCO-STATE?

Ambassador Thomas Schweich (July 27) just doesn't get it. Afghanistan
profits from the opium trade because of prohibition, not in spite of
it. Attempts to limit the supply of illegal drugs while demand
remains constant increase the profitability of drug trafficking. For
addictive drugs like heroin, a spike in street prices leads desperate
addicts to increase criminal activity to feed desperate habits. The
drug war doesn't fight crime; it fuels crime. Switzerland's heroin
maintenance program has reduced disease, death and crime among
chronic users. Heroin-maintenance pilot projects are under way in
Canada, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands. Prescription heroin
maintenance could deprive organized crime of a core client base,
which might render illegal heroin trafficking unprofitable. It might
also undermine Taliban funding in Afghanistan. Of course, admitting
that drug prohibition is the problem rather than the solution is
tantamount to admitting the emperor wears no clothes.

Robert Sharpe

Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington