SWISS HEROIN PROGRAM EFFECTIVE PUBLIC POLICY

Editor, the Tribune: I'm writing about a thoughtful column from Hank
Waters, "Mexico and the drug war" on Jan. 22.

Imagine if we could eliminate almost all of our nation's heroin
dealers - Switzerland did. Imagine if we could reduce the number of
heroin addicts by 82 percent - Switzerland did. Imagine if we could
dramatically reduce our overall crime rate - Switzerland did. Imagine
if we could eliminate virtually all deaths from heroin - Switzerland did.

How did they do it? In 1994, Switzerland started an experimental
program to sell heroin addicts the drug cheaply, even giving it to
the addicts who couldn't afford it. In 2008, 68 percent of the Swiss
voted to make the program permanent. Have Swiss heroin-addiction
rates skyrocketed? No, they have dramatically fallen. So has
Switzerland's overall crime rate.

Will we adopt Switzerland's heroin policy? Probably not. Too many
people, industries and institutions have a vested financial interest
in maintaining the status quo.

Kirk Muse

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