CONTROLLED DRUGS ARE OUT OF CONTROL

To the Editors,

With all the recent press about the methamphetamine problem I think a
little background might be helpful in deciding what to do about it.
First of all we should be aware that meth was completely legal in
America, available without prescription, over the counter, at any
pharmacy until 1954. I don't recall hearing of any of these problems
then. Why? What has changed?

Were there people who abused meth before 1954? Of course. Did those
folks wreak havoc on the environment by dumping the toxic chemicals
they used to make the stuff in our streams? No. Why? Because it was
made by big drug companies who were regulated and controlled by the
government. For the most part they disposed of their waste products in
approved ways.

Did those early meth users shoot each other over their black market
drug deal disputes? No. Why? Because there was no black market...
remember, any adult who wanted it could legally go buy it at the local
drugstore.

With such easy availability was there a big problem with amphetamine
abuse? Not according to the AMA at the time. They objected to the
prohibition of amphetamine.

So what is the cause of our recent problems with this drug? The
problem is not actually with the drug itself but with the way we chose
to handle the drug. Prohibition creates a violent black market, does
not recognize age restrictions on sales, and does not address purity
or dose controls or environmental concerns. We've chosen to turn those
issues over to the criminals.

Why we call these illegal drugs "Controlled substances" when we don't
seem able to control them enough to keep them out of our prisons or
out of the hands of our children is beyond me. It's time to start
being smart on crime, not just pretending to be tough on crime.
Legalize, regulate, and control these currently illegal drugs. It's
time to stop pretending we're getting somewhere by prohibiting them.

Nicolas Eyle

Syracuse, NY.