EXPERT: REDUCING DEMAND FOR DRUGS THAT FUEL ILLEGAL
OPERATIONS POSSIBLE

EL PASO -- Reducing demand for drugs that fuel illegal operations in
the United States and Mexico will require money and a change of
priorities, a speaker at the 7th Annual Border Security Conference
said today. The conference at the University of Texas at El Paso is in
its second and final day.

Drug courts that divert law breakers into treatment programs have
significantly fewer problems with probation violations, said Josiah
Heyman, chairman of UTEP's Department of Sociology and
Anthropology.

"Why don't we have more investment in these kinds of approaches?"
Heyman asked. "All of these things have large upfront costs."

Nonetheless, those approaches save money in the long run, he said.
Combined with changes in social attitudes, significant demand
reduction is possible, he said.

"I grew up when smoking and drinking was the image of coolness on
television," Heyman said. "We know that's gone away. We can do it."