DRUG WAR FUELS CRIME PROBLEM

Does moving open-air drug markets from one Melbourne neighborhood to
the next constitute drug war victory? Attempts to limit the supply of
illegal drugs while demand remains constant only increase the
profitability of drug trafficking.

For addictive drugs like heroin, a spike in street prices leads
desperate addicts to increase criminal activity to feed desperate
habits. The drug war doesn't fight crime, it fuels crime.

Drug policy should focus not on the task of eliminating drugs, but
rather on reducing the death, disease, crime and suffering associated
with both drug abuse and enforcement.

Drug prohibition finances organized crime at home and terrorism
abroad, which is then used to justify increased drug war spending.

It's time to end this madness and instead treat all substance abuse,
legal or otherwise, as the public health problem it is.

Robert Sharpe

Washington, D.C.