THE DEADLY IGNORANCE OF "DRUG WARRIORS"

The New York Post last weekend ran an article entitled "Heroin for
Dummies." It's a reference to the 16-page pamphlet, "Take Charge Take
Care," published (two years ago) by the New York City health
department. The pamphlet's purpose in reaching out to heroin addicts
is to save lives and prevent disease. But you'd think, judging from
the panic-stricken, patently ignorant statements of New York's drug
warriors, that the city's real agenda is to put heroin in baby formula.

With it's cutesy subtitle, "City flier 'smacks' of lunacy," and its
opening sentence, "Here's the latest smack on taxpayers," the piece
could have been written in 1930 by the nation's first Commissioner of
the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, Henry "Reefer Madness" Anslinger.

But there's no humor in hysteria and that's precisely what DEA's John
Gilbride, the city's own "drug czar," Bridget Brennan and the city
council's chair of public safety Peter Vallone (D-Queens) are peddling.

"To suggest there is a method of using [heroin] that alleviates the
dangers, that's very disturbing," said Gilbride.

"No matter how many times or how clean the needle is, it's still
poison that you're putting in your veins," said Brennan.

"It's sick," said Vallone. He went on to describe the pamphlet as a
"tremendous misuse of city funds," and pledged to do what he could to
end it. "It sends a message to our youth: give it a try."

Oh, please.

I have no doubt these public officials mean well but they've
obviously not done their homework. And their ignorance, should it
result in influencing a reversal of this splendid program will cost
lives. Guaranteed.

A person addicted to heroin needs the drug as much as a diabetic
needs insulin. How he or she gets it is problematic, a function of
our spectacularly failed policy of prohibition. But get he or she
will get it, and use it. How it's administered means the difference
between life and death.

I spent a good deal of time with heroin addicts in six Australian
cities on a recent trip there. I visited a supervised injection site
in Sydney, clean needle and syringe programs throughout the country,
a "one stop" methadone treatment clinic. I listened to testimonials,
saw firsthand some of the results of the impressive harm reduction
efforts I'd been reading about not just in Australia but in
Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Vancouver, B.C., the
Netherlands. And New York City.

Down Under, I heard from addicts who, because they were taught how to
effectively and hygienically administer the drug (in part through
pamphlets virtually identical to New York's), are now living safer
and healthier lives. Which is to say, they've learned how to reduce
the risk of collapsed veins, pus-filled abscesses, and deadly
blood-borne pathogens such as HIV and hepatitis.

Those addicted are still at risk, of course. And so is the broader
community. Ideally, we would legalize, tax, regulate and control
heroin and all other drugs. And use a substantial portion of the
substantial revenues generated thereby to fund prevention and treatment.

But until we find the will and the wisdom to do that, outreach
programs such as New York's will continue, beyond any doubt, to
alleviate suffering. And save lives.

By the way, Mr. Vallone, any kid who picks up one of those bright
yellow pamphlets is most unlikely, by reading it, to be drawn to
heroin. "Take Charge Take Care" reflects implicitly on the misery and
heartache that characterizes the lives of many of the people the Post
has chosen to ridicule and dehumanize.

New Yorkers must not let these modern Anslingers rule the day.