MOVING DEALERS HARDLY A SOLUTION

Re "Cops keeping dealers moving" by Justin Beddall, Jan. 23-29 issue:

Does moving open-air drug markets from one Vancouver neighborhood to the
next constitute drug war victory? 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.

Drug policy should focus not on reducing the total number of people who use
drugs, but rather on reducing the death, disease, crime and suffering
associated with both drug use and prohibition. The good news is that
Vancouver has already adopted many of the harm-reduction interventions
pioneered in Europe. The bad news is that Canada's southern neighbour
continues to use its superpower status to export a dangerous moral crusade
around the globe.

The U.S. provides tragic examples of anti-drug strategies that are best
avoided. Can Canada afford to emulate the harm-maximization drug policies
of the former land of the free and current record holder in citizens
incarcerated?

Robert Sharpe, program officer, Drug Policy Alliance Washington, DC
http://www.drugpolicy.org