DRUG WAR DOESN'T WORK, ONLY MAKES CRIME GROW

In response to your April 24 editorial, "Timely 'weeding' by GBI," weeding
out street-level drug-dealing is easier said than done.

Attempts to limit the supply of illegal drugs while demand remains constant
only increase the profitability of drug trafficking. The obscene profits to
be made guarantee replacement dealers.

In terms of addictive drugs like heroin, a temporary spike in street prices
leads desperate addicts to increase criminal activity to feed their habits.
The drug war doesn't fight crime, it fuels crime.

With alcohol prohibition repealed, liquor bootleggers no longer gun each
other down in drive-by shootings, nor do consumers go blind drinking
unregulated bathtub gin.

While U.S. politicians ignore the drug war's historical precedent, European
countries are embracing harm reduction, a public health alternative based
on the principle that both drug abuse and prohibition have the potential to
cause harm.

Examples of harm reduction include needle exchange programs to stop the
spread of HIV, marijuana regulation aimed at separating the hard and soft
drug markets and treatment alternatives that do not require incarceration
as a prerequisite.

Unfortunately, fear of appearing soft on crime compels U.S. politicians to
support a failed drug war that ultimately subsidizes organized crime. Drug
abuse is bad, but the drug war is worse.

Robert Sharpe

Program Officer

Drug Policy Alliance

Washington, D.C.