PROHIBITION OF DRUGS WILL NEVER GET RID OF GANGS

Re: It's time to bite the bullet on gang and drug problems, Column, Dec. 17

The article by Daphne Bramham about gangs misses the mark entirely.
The root cause of gang violence is not young people joining or the
lure of excitement.

We know from long experience that cracking down on one gang simply
creates a vacuum for another one to move in. This is precisely what is
happening now.

The root cause of gang violence is the demand for illegal drugs. And
it is not even the drugs that are the problem, it is addiction.

Addiction is a mental illness. Why do we treat mental illness with the
criminal code?

Addiction cannot be cured, but it can be controlled.

Endless studies show that regulating drugs (not legalizing but
regulating) results in lower demand, lower poverty, lower crime and
lower violence.

Regulating drugs gets rid of gangs. Prohibition does not. Talking to
school kids does not.

Jim Baxter

New Westminster