TIME TO CUT DRUG DEMAND

The war on drugs will never be won by attacking supply lines. The only hope
for victory is reducing demand. We're reminded of this by a couple of
dispatches from the Kentucky front.

First is the report that the painkiller methadone is fast replacing
OxyContin as the abuser's prescription drug of choice. That's not to say
that OxyContin has lost its illicit appeal, as our second example shows.
The newly released generic version of OxyContin showed up on the black
market in Eastern Kentucky before it reached pharmacies.

In a culture as awash in drugs as ours, supply will always adjust to
demand. Until politicians back up their lip service to treatment with some
real money, we'll keep losing the war on drugs.

[snip]