DRUG ABUSE POLICY

Misguided policy ever more costly

In Wednesday's paper we read in the headlines, "Physicians criticize U.S.
drug policy". Saturday we read that Gov. Locke signed three bills designed
to crack down on people who operate methanphetamine labs.

U.S. physicians urge our country's citizens to realize that drug addiction
can be treated as effectively as any chronic disease. Our legislators
ignore scientific studies and so we raise the risk that will raise the
price of an addictive drug. When the price goes up, so do the profits and
meth labs will operate in greater numbers than ever before. So will
prisons.

The public has little understanding of drug issues because legislators fan
the flames of hysteria about drug use and abuse. Appearing tough on crime
wins votes - but isn't it time we get smart?

Addiction is a medical problem and it's far past time to let the medial
establishment take the reigns from legislators and law enforcement.

We have also read that in Montana the growing demand for prison cells is
taking their entire budget for schools this year. Will our new laws do the
same to our state? We are fast heading in that direction. Our own
Department of Corrections budget is expected to triple in the next two
years! The money will be siphoned from education, just as it has in every
state across America.

So what is it going to be? A medical problem or a criminal one? Are we
going to build schools or prisons for our children?

Nora Callahan, director of The November Coalition