INVEST IN DRUG EDUCATION

Editor, The Bulletin;

Contrary to your recent claims, imprisonment doesn't act as a deterrent to
drug use or drug dealing (Brooks Bulletin, 13/06/03) In fact,
criminalisation offers greater motivation for many poor people to commit
the crime of dealing drugs. Illegality increases the price of the much
demanded product, thus increasing the incentives for would be dealers.

The high rates of drug use and the high rates of drug related imprisonment
in your country show that a harshly punitive response to drugs does not
reduce use or access to these substances.

Taxpayer's dollars would be much better utilised if they were invested in
drug education, as opposed to law enforcement and the prison system.

Duncan Eddy Karitane, Otago, New Zealand