DRUG WAR BACKFIRES

The Star-Ledger is kidding itself if it thinks a lot of good has come from
the war on drugs. ("More sensible drug law," March 3) Attempts to limit
supplies 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 their habits. The drug war doesn't fight crime; it fuels crime.

With alcohol prohibition repealed, bootleggers no longer gun down each
other in drive-by shootings, nor do consumers go blind drinking unregulated
bathtub gin. While U.S. politicians ignore the drug war's historical
precedent, European countries are embracing harm reduction, a public health
alternative based on the principle that both drug abuse and prohibition can
cause harm.

Examples of harm reduction include needle exchange programs to stop the
spread of HIV, marijuana regulation aimed at separating the hard and soft
drug markets, and treatment alternatives that do not require incarceration.
Unfortunately, fear of appearing "soft on crime" compels many U.S.
politicians to support a failed drug war that ultimately subsidizes
organized crime.

Robert Sharpe, Arlington, Va.