NO EVIDENCE BACKS 'WAR ON DRUGS'

In the June 9 edition of the Pacific Daily News' Opinion section was a
quote from former drug czar, retired Army Gen. Barry R. McCaffrey. In his
quote, he stated that it would be "irresponsible" not to have the criminal
justice system involved in the treatment of substance abuse and drug addiction.

Why? Please cite your sources. Ever since the criminal justice system began
its "war on drugs," the drugs themselves have gotten cheaper, more potent
and widely available. Now we have documented cases of 9-year-olds
experimenting. What can you show us that treatment and harm-reduction
hasn't already?

Several days after Sept. 11, U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft stated on
CNN's Larry King Live: "I want to model the war on terrorism after the war
on drugs." Anyone with a computer and access to the Internet will be able
to discover that the war on drugs has been a total failure and is worsening
the human condition.

(Studies show) that the pathways to easing the "drug problem" are
decriminalization and medicalization (treatment upon
demand/harm-reduction). Can you, Gen. McCaffrey, or anyone else in the
criminal justice system, show us one shred of evidence that the criminal
justice system has achieved any substantial effect, besides funneling
individuals into treatment, that works?

As a physician and an experimental research scientist, the criminal justice
system's approach to solving the drug problem comes across to me as fascist
in nature, especially when you compare our programs to those of Russia and
western Europe.

My father was a Marine in World War II. He taught me how to "question
authority." I also learned that if you can't defend your position, then you
don't have one. So I ask you, General, with all due honor and respect, in
light of all the evidence, how can you defend your position?

I truly revere your service to our country, just as I do my dad's. But it
seems to me, from my own personal and professional perspective, that what
is missing from your rhetoric is a good dose of compassion and love. It
appears that you have forgotten what you fought for, and that is the
universality of liberty and freedom.

Sen. John McCain, former POW, writes in his latest book, "Why Courage
Matters," that "We're all afraid of something. Some have more fears than
others. The one we must all guard against is the fear of ourselves. Don't
let the sensation of fear convince you that you're too weak to have
courage. Fear is the opportunity for courage, not proof of cowardice. No
one is born a coward. We were meant to love. And we were meant to have
courage for it."

So be brave, General. The rest is easy.