WAR ON DRUGS HAS BEEN A COSTLY FAILURE

After 40 years of failure in dealing with drug abuse as a criminal
problem, it's time to listen to the experts and recognize it as a
health issue. Two health policy groups based in this province have
helped launched an international effort to tackle the damage done by
drug abuse and addiction in a new way. The principle being advanced by
the B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS and the International
Centre for Science in Drug Policy is simple.

Using a scientific approach, determine what works to reduce the damage
done to individuals and societies, and what doesn't. Then do those
things that are effective and quit doing those that are ineffective --
or worse, destructive.

The fact that this proposal is controversial shows how completely
illogical the drug policy debate has become.

The groups and the International AIDS Society have drafted what they
are calling the Vienna Declaration in advance of next month's AIDS
conference in that city.

The effort to address drug abuse and addiction and the resulting
crime, health and social problems has not only failed, but had
negative consequences, the declaration states. "The criminalization of
illicit drug users is fuelling the HIV epidemic and has resulted in
overwhelmingly negative health and social consequences," it says.

The consequences of the current failure can be seen around the world
- -- in Mexico, where drug gangs wage vicious war; in Afghanistan, where
opium production helps fund the Taliban's war effort; in the U.S.,
where billions are spent on enforcement efforts and in jails.

And in B.C. communities, where addiction is responsible for 90% of
property crime and much of the street disorder.

The current policies are enormously expensive and have been totally
ineffectual.

The declaration proposes "the redirection of the vast financial
resources towards where they are needed most: Implementing and
evaluating evidence-based prevention, regulatory, treatment and harm
reduction interventions."

Criminalizing drug use simply has not worked. The "war on drugs" was
officially launched 39 years ago by then-U.S. president Richard Nixon.
After decades of effort by police, drugs are more readily available,
cheaper and of better quality than ever. Drug profits have fuelled the
growth of organized crime. Addiction has claimed millions of victims.
Jails are overflowing and countless families lives have been shattered.

A science-based approach doesn't mean a free and open drug trade. But
it would likely see a regulated supply of drugs and decriminalization
of the user. And the approach is neither radical or untested. Portugal
decriminalized all drug use in 2001, with positive results.

In any case, continuing down the same path would be stupid. The war on
drugs has wasted taxpayers' money for no public benefit and, in fact,
increased the damage done by drugs.

It's time to deal with drug use as a health and social policy issue,
with decisions based on fact-based assessment of their
effectiveness.

. This editorial originally appeared in the Times Colonist.