U.S. ISN'T THE DRUG MODEL TO FOLLOW

Re: This is your crime problem on drugs (B.C. Views,
NewsLeader, Oct. 11)

Tom Fletcher makes the common mistake of confusing drug-related crime
with prohibition-related crime in his column.

Attempts to limit the supply of illegal drugs while demand remains
constant only increase the profitability of drug trafficking. For
addictive drugs like heroin, a spike in street prices leads desperate
addicts to increase criminal activity to feed desperate habits. The
drug war doesn't fight crime, it fuels crime.

The good news is that Canada has already adopted many of the common
sense harm reduction interventions first pioneered in Europe.

The bad news is that Canada's southern neighbour continues to use its
superpower status to export a dangerous moral crusade around the globe.

The United States provides tragic examples of anti-drug strategies
that are best avoided.

Can Canada afford to emulate the harm maximization approach of the
former land of the free and current record holder in citizens
incarcerated?

ROBERT SHARPE

Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington, D.C.