CUT DEMAND

On the Nov 27th Sentinal staff writers reported a typical drug interdiction
to shut down a drug ring in Florida. It required the coordinated work of
many officials over a four month period, both here and in Columbia. A
recent bust in Australia suggests that interdiction is totally ineffective,
a waste of taxpayers' money.

Six weeks ago the Australians confiscated an 800 lb heroin shipment, a huge
amount for Australia, almost three times the amount confiscated there last
year and equal to a six to twelve month supply. Alarms sounded about the
oncoming price increase and crime wave. But nothing happened! Why? Because
Australia has a huge inventory of heroin. The smugglers do this by bringing
in all they can whenever they can. It works the same way here and it is
impossible to defeat.

There is a better way to attack the disease, addiction and death from
heroin. It is to have drug treatment more available, drug education more
honest, and parents more interested in their children's lives. In short, we
must reduce demand.

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski