THE U.S. IS NOT A GOOD EXAMPLE

THE goal to rid your schools and country of drugs by 2013 and 2015 sounds
noble, "Zainal: All should say no to drugs'' (The Star, Feb 19).

The United States adopted a similar goal 90 years ago when 1.3% of our
population was addicted to drugs.

Ninety years ago, all types of recreational drugs were legally available at
local US pharmacies for pennies per dose. Ninety years ago, deaths from
recreational drugs were very rare because the drugs were of known quality,
purity and potency.

Today in the US, we still have about 1.3% of our population addicted to
drugs. Today, deaths from drugs are common because the drugs are
unregulated, untaxed and controlled by criminal gangs.

Today, thanks to our counter-productive war on drugs, the US is the most
incarcerated nation on the planet. With fewer than 5% of the world's
population, it has greater than 25% of the world's prisoners.

During the past 34 years, the US has spent in excess of a trillion dollars
attempting to nullify the basic economic law of supply and demand. Our
efforts and money have been completely wasted.

My advice to Malaysia and the rest of the world is: Carefully observe US
drug policy - then do the opposite. Don't follow us. We are lost.

Kirk Muse

United States