GIVE ADDICTS ALL THE HEROIN THEY NEED, AWAY FROM SOCIETY

Is there a new way of looking at the drug problem?

A CBC Radio documentary on drugs set me thinking. It seems Afghani farmers
earn far more growing drugs than any other product, for reasons beyond
their control. Crime by addicts to fund their habits is a perennial
problem, as are numerous, expensive health problems.

One expert suggested that more than $45,000 is spent per annum per addict
in direct out-of-pocket expenditure on health care, policing and
punishment. Frankly, I would think that figure to be very much understated
and conservative.

In any event, the current situation is not desirable. Current programs are
not working to reduce the trade. Given that the current non-medical use of
heroin and the associated illicit trade are bad things, we need to find a
model to combat them.

I think most of us would agree with these points: Heroin is more usually
addictive than not. Left to their own devices and given an unlimited supply
of heroin, most addicts' lives will be greatly shortened by their
addiction. Even if not particularly shortened, such lives will be much less
productive and, given the addict's need for ready cash, more likely to
involve crime than the norm.

Most addicts will die prematurely and consume more than average health-care
resources when compared to age-peers. The heroin subculture is not
self-limiting because new heroin addicts are continually added to the
system to replace those who drop out (either through rehabilitation or,
more likely, through death).

Given these assumptions, any really hopeful approach must focus on the real
problem. The real problem is the demand for heroin. Current methods of
punishment for possession (let alone trafficking) are not working to reduce
the numbers of addicts or the byproduct, which is crime. Indeed, limiting
supply only increases the price, which increases the crime.

So here's an idea: We have to focus on society's right to protect itself
and ignore what we cannot affect. Sounds simple, and it is. First, the
government, by (and only by) undercutting the price and improving quality
and quantity, must monopolize the supply. This will greatly reduce the
byproduct of crime as well as the opportunities for corruption of police
and government.

Every adult who is willing to pay the price for government heroin should
get it. The price for such people is only this: They must move away from
society for the duration of their addiction. Any addiction is essentially
narcissistic and anti-social, so this is not a real price at all.

The government should set up modest, clean, comfortable heroin resorts (and
I use the term deliberately -- these are not to be prisons) with only
enough security to protect the workers. They should be located far enough
away from society that the addict will know that he/she will go through
withdrawal before being able to get physically back to an underworld
supply. Ideally, access would be by helicopter only.

The addict should receive as much heroin as he/she requests. The addict
will thus become more docile, less of a security risk and consume fewer
recreational and food resources. They may, by their free choice to increase
their usage, also shorten their stay at the resort.

Non-residents should be entitled to come and stay at these resorts upon
depositing sufficient cash to cover the costs of their reasonably expected
stay.

The government must set up numerous rehabilitation centres devoted to the
breaking of the addiction and retraining for society, free of charge, of
any person who volunteers to enter them. The addict who does try rehab
should be free at any time to return to the resort and vice versa, without
limit.

There is an important component I haven't mentioned yet. The rule must be
that nobody leaves the resort unless rehabilitated or dead. Attendance at
the resort should be voluntary at first instance, but to protect society,
anybody found with heroin in the bloodstream on more than one occasion or
found guilty of an offence against property or person while under the
influence should go to the resort. A person convicted of any crime should
be allowed to choose the resort in lieu of any punishment.

This may sound draconian to us non-addicts. Ask any addict if he/she would
prefer to spend his/her life with like-minded people in a warm, safe,
comfortable, respectful environment with recreational facilities, good food
and unlimited heroin where money is simply not an issue -- and where
state-of-the-art rehab facilities are available free for the asking.

What do you think he/she would say?

At the same time, we deprive the traffickers of their business and protect
the honest from the crime and ill health associated with the drug trade.