SINGAPORE SOLUTION COULD WORK ON DRUG DEALERS HERE

How did this country and the U.S. become such drug-addicted
societies?

A recent report states that the pain killer Oxycontin is now the
number one drug used by addicts in North America. But whether it's
this drug, crack cocaine, crystal meth or others, the result is always
the same: wasted lives, needless deaths, crime and the spending of
tons of taxpayers' money that should be used for productive purposes.
It's a cop-out when ministers of health claim there's no easy answer.

What's appalling is how Oxycontin, so ill-used, is so easy to get in
Ontario alone. In 2008, provincial pharmacies dispensed prescriptions
for Oxycontin that were more than double the national average. Then in
2009-10, the Ontario drug plan processed 3.9 million opioid claims
made by 776,000 people. The population of Ontario is just over 12
million! And this is just one province!

What's gone wrong? Some doctors prescribe Oxycontin for sprained
ankles when less potent drugs would do. Addicts also locate the
doctors most likely to renew their prescriptions. But surely these
doctors should be able to distinguish between addicted patients and
those who have genuine need for a painkiller. If they don't, they
should be retrained or lose their licence.

Some argue this problem can be solved by more treatment centres, more
trained personnel, improved housing etc. I agree this is ideal, but it
does nothing to stop the root cause of addiction, particularly easy
access to illegal drugs.

What would work? Several years ago, I interviewed drug officials in
Singapore. I've never forgotten the two words they used to describe
the incompetence of politicians in this country. They stated they had
become "irresponsibly permissive."

Years ago, Singaporean politicians committed the same sin. Drug
traffickers were allowed free rein and heroin addiction became a major
problem for young people. But there's a major difference between
Singapore and this country. Unlike our gutless politicians, Singapore
had a visionary president, Lee Kuan Yew, who took drastic action to
stop the trafficking of heroin.

Lee introduced the death penalty for major drug traffickers. Lesser
drug offences were punishable by caning.

But the government also realized this policy was doomed to failure if
drugs continued to be easily available, so drug infected areas were
flooded with police 24 hours a day for up to nine months. Addicts were
picked up and sent to treatment centres. Major drug dealers were hung,
others imprisoned (health authorities in Canada and the U.S. take note).

Drug dealers quickly got Lee's message. The new laws were harsh and
police intended to carry them out. In effect, never show your teeth if
you're not prepared to bite.

I've heard ad nauseam that harsh punishment does not deter crime. This
is the perpetual cry of do-gooders. Singapore officials retorted that
only five per cent of those who were caned became repeat offenders.
Even Aristotle, the father of medicine, preached that "punishment is a
form of medicine."

Our weak-kneed politicians who have no idea how to curb drug addiction
should visit Singapore. Those would be tax dollars well-spent. En
route, they would get the first powerful message when a small card is
handed to them aboard the plane prior to landing. It warns, "Death to
drug traffickers."

While in Singapore, they would not see the disgusting drug scenes that
have become a part of so many North American cities. Drug dealers
dispense their illegal wares in broad daylight while others inject
themselves on the street with impunity with whatever drug is available.

I can already hear critics howling "blue murder" about the Singapore
solution. They need not worry, as it will not happen in North America.
Unfortunately, there is no Lee Kuan Yew who has the vision and
intestinal fortitude to enact tough legislation. Rather, we have
namby-pamby officials who cannot see the medical and social chaos of a
"no action" plan. We cannot cure all the addicts who are now a part of
our society. But the Singapore plan could stop their cancerous growth.