WAR ON DRUGS - CURE IS WORSE THAN DISEASE

Lance Dickie was right on target ("Everett needn't fear this
worthwhile service," editorial column, May 9). Methadone maintenance
has been proven to reduce drug use and related crime, death and
disease among chronic heroin users. Contrary to popular opinion,
methadone staves off debilitating withdrawal symptoms, but does not
produce a high that prevents patients from living productive lives.

The tough-on-drugs alternative to harm-reduction interventions like
methadone is a very real threat to public safety. Attempts to limit
the supply of illegal drugs while demand remains constant only
increase the profitability of drug trafficking. In terms of addictive
drugs like heroin, a spike in street prices leads desperate addicts to
increase criminal activity to feed desperate habits.

The drug war doesn't fight crime, it fuels crime. Unfortunately,
tough-on-drugs politicians have built careers on confusing drug
prohibition's collateral damage with drugs themselves.

When politics trumps science, people die. Centers for Disease Control
researchers estimate that 57 percent of AIDS cases among women, and 36
percent of overall AIDS cases in the U.S., are linked to
injection-drug use or sex with partners who inject drugs. This easily
preventable public-health crisis is a direct result of zero-tolerance
laws that restrict access to clean syringes.

Drug abuse is bad, but the drug war is worse.

Robert Sharpe, program officer, Drug Policy Alliance, Washington, D.C.