TREATMENT THE BEST BET TO STOP DRUG ADDICTION

Katherine Boylen's belief that trying to cut drugs off at the source
would be an effective response to the drug problem is a common one
(Thwart drug trade before it hits the streets, Letters, May 7).
Unfortunately, it is also wrong.

The Rand Corporation recently reviewed all the methods of dealing with the
drug problem. Trying to cut drugs off at the source and stopping them at
the border were the least cost-effective methods of control.

The most cost-effective method of controlling the drug problem was
treatment. It is certainly not perfect or a guarantee of success, but it
is more cost-effective than law enforcement approaches by several orders of
magnitude.

Clifford Schaffer

Director

DRCNet Online Library of Drug Policy

Agua Dulce, Calif.