HISTORY LESSON - PROHIBITION DIDN'T WORK THEN, AND IT'S KILLING US NOW

SO IT BEGINS. Drug and alcohol testing for teachers. Next in line,
students. Then all government workers, and employees of any company
that does business with the city or state. Individuals will be forced
to disclose their medical and psychiatric care histories, since
prescription drugs can trigger false positives. But don't worry, our
leaders say we can trust Big Brother and testing labs to keep
sensitive personal information confidential. Welcome to the
totalitarian world of "1984."

In the debate about drug testing, basic questions are being
overlooked: Why should we sacrifice personal freedom just to nail a
very small percentage of people who might (or might not) have a drug
problem? How is it that the arrests of four teachers -- "several,"
according to TV news reporters -- indicates our schools need to
implement Orwellian measures to protect children, when the real
dangers of drug abuse are more likely to be found in their parents'
homes?

Moreover, which drugs are the most harmful? Studies say alcohol and
tobacco cause more damage than pot. A person can legally use
prescription meds like Paxil or Valium to make themselves feel better.
But someone who takes Ecstasy to feel good is a criminal. Adults can
enjoy a cocktail to relax or get drunk, but woe to the individual who
smokes a joint to achieve the same effect.

Dude, it's time we stop living in denial. We can't win the "War on
Drugs" because to do so, we'd have to wipe out illegal drug use
completely. And that is no more likely to happen than stopping all
consumption of alcohol, which was attempted during Prohibition. You
remember what happened with that social experiment, don't you?

Apparently not, because we're committing the same mistakes all over
again. During the past 30 years, hundreds of billions of your tax
dollars have been spent in a futile strategy that has backfired. Just
as Prohibition created conditions for moonshiners, bootleggers and the
mob to prosper, the War on Drugs has only benefited organized crime,
drug dealers and prison contractors. As long as the profit motive
exists for black market goods, their will be suppliers who will step
forward to fill the need.

Don't take my word for it. Listen to actual cops and detectives who
say we need to rethink this country's drug policy. These veteran
police officers belong to a group called Law Enforcement Against
Prohibition, which has put out a powerful 12-minute video on the
subject. You can view it on their Web site (please go to
www.leap.cc/Multimedia/LEAPpromo.php). They have no political agenda
and make no moral judgments. Their message is simple and clear:
legalizing and regulating drugs will mean less crime and fewer deaths,
and will save tax dollars.

In truth, most people can drink, smoke pot in moderation or take
prescription drugs without becoming addicted. A small percentage have
a genetic predisposition for getting hooked, though -- somewhere
between 5 to 10 percent of the population. Yet we're spending a
ridiculous amount of money and resources on outlawing drugs for
everyone else. Instead, we should be focusing on reducing harm and
crime by giving addicts better options and providing treatment. As it
is, eight out of 10 Hawaii prisoners who need help for drug problems
get no treatment whatsoever. What do you think they're going to do
when they get released?

So here's what I propose. Let's start an island-wide discussion about
dealing realistically with our drug problem. In future columns, I'll
be writing in more detail about the history of drug use in the United
States, the current state of affairs and alternatives worth
considering.

I'm inviting members of government, law enforcement, the prison system
and addiction experts to share their views. I want you to tell us what
you think. There are no easy solutions. But I believe the majority of
Americans are pragmatic people, and once we get past certain emotional
issues, we're capable of finding common ground.

Or would you rather let Big Brother call the shots? Because that's
where we're heading, unless we change course.

Rich Figel is a screenwriter who lives in Kailua. He has been clean
and sober for 18 years. His column appears periodically in the Insight
section.