FIGHTING DRUGS

Letter to the Editor

Gang warfare, child prostitution, home invasions: these crimes that
occupy the thoughts of government and law enforcement agencies are so
disturbing to the public at large have one common denominator. Yet our
public defenders insist on seeing the solution as the forming of
separate task forces to deal with each problem separately.

The common denominator is, of course, drugs. Unless our lawmakers and
enforcers face this undeniable fact and concentrate their efforts into
a single campaign against the whole drug culture, then they are doomed
to fail in their efforts to curb the others. Conversely, if all these
efforts were co-ordinated against the common problem, then success
would come and the rest would automatically shrink.

However, for this kind of operation to succeed, the law enforcers must
have the right kind of laws behind them and this is where government
has to do its part. This will mean prison terms for drug dealers that
are so punitive, no one will want to take the risk. Once the dealers
are put away and the supply dries up, the addicts who now litter the
streets of our cities will have to get professional help.

The real question is, do politicians have this kind of will? History
suggest we should not hold our breath.

Charles Reid
Gabriola Island