CURRENT APPROACH TO WAR ON DRUGS NOT SUCCEEDING

I need to ask some questions relating to the Statesman Journal's June
29 editorial, "Meth plague is overblown? If only that were true here."

Not providing comparisons gives little dimension to the scope of the
meth problem. How do mid-Willamette meth statistics compare to
alcohol-fueled domestic abuse? Alcohol intoxication medical
interventions?

What are HIV and hepatitis rates for intravenous injection? Problems
with heart conditions brought about by stress, obesity and cigarette
smoking? Traffic injuries?

There is no doubt that methamphetamine use does create a problem in
public health. The doubts lie in our approach to drug related issues.

After 30 years of the criminalization demanded by the "war" on drugs,
we have a problem that is larger than when we started. Could it be we
actually have a problem in policy? Would 30 years of failure be
tolerated in private industry?

As much as Prohibition was a failure with alcohol in the early 20th
century, so too is our 21st century Prohibition II a failure. Perhaps
a calmer, health-based approach to drug problems, finding success in
other countries, might be in order.

And if there is a crisis, we need a medical triage approach, not the
construction of an American gulag.

Allan Erickson, Drug Policy Forum of Oregon, Eugene