DRUG CZAR'S METHADONE SUGGESTIONS MAKE SENSE

As a writer of many letters critical of the Clinton administration's drug
policy, I think it's important to praise them when they do the right thing.
Drug czar Barry McCaffrey recently advocated an increase in the use of
methadone treatment to addicts. This is a good policy for many reasons.

First, treating this drug problem as a health issue allows addicts to pursue
employment, be with their families and attempt to become productive members
of society.

Secondly, it frees up costly prison resources that are needed for violent
offenders. With Jenna's Law now on the books, prisoner's will be serving out
longer sentences. Nonviolent drug offenders should be given the option of
treatment.

McCaffrey's recommendations for methadone treatment clash with New York City
Mayor Rudolph Guliani, who embraces abstinence as the only policy for drug
users. Due to an overburdened system, addicts fall off the wagon before they
can even get into a rehabilitation program. European countries have reduced
drug use and drug related-crime through on-demand heroin and methadone
maintenance clinics. Waging a war on drugs has shackled America with an
ineffective and counterproductive drug policy. I applaud General McCaffrey
for supporting methadone clinics. His position has forced drug warriors like
Mayor Guliani to defend the status quo.

The media ought to pay more attention to this debate. Drug reformers have
widened their political spectrum to include everyone from libertarians who
feel the drug war has eroded the Constitution to conservatives who see the
government getting too intrusive in their lives. While the notion of a
drug-free America might sound noble, it's not possible in our free society.
It's not due to any lack of effort by the government. Our leaders keep
saying they are getting tougher and continue to increase the drug war
budget. Yet, no one holds them accountable for 30 years of a failed policy.

If America accepted drugs as part of the society we live in, we could
declare victory and coexist with them in the least harmful manner and craft
drug policies that are attainable and effective.

WILLIAM AIKEN

Checked-by: Rolf Ernst