HARM REDUCTION - NOT INHUMANE WAR

I am glad to see lawmakers taking a "harm reduction" approach to the problem
of abandoned babies by offering amnesty for their mothers.

Rather than continually increasing penalties for crimes, we need to follow
this example and start putting the welfare of victims first in making
policy.

I hope that instead of continuing our unceasing and inhumane war on drugs we
may move toward policies that treat drug abuse and reduce crime instead of
those that simply increase penalties, profits and violence.

Ellen Komp
Program associate
The Lindesmith Center
San Francisco