WAR ON ILLEGAL DRUGS INEFFECTIVE, ONLY INCREASES PROFITABILITY OF CRIME

The King's College Public Policy and Social Research Institute couldn't
have picked a better speaker to discuss the drug war than Judge James Gray.
As a former federal prosecutor, Judge Gray makes a compelling case for harm
reduction alternatives to the never-ending drug war. So-called drug-related
crime is invariably prohibition-related. 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
habits. The drug war doesn't fight crime, it fuels crime. With alcohol
prohibition repealed, liquor bootleggers no longer gun each other down, nor
do consumers go blind drinking unregulated bathtub gin. While U.S.
politicians ignore the historical precedent, European countries are
embracing harm reduction, a public health alternative based on the
principle that both drug abuse and drug prohibition have the potential to
cause harm. Examples of harm reduction include needle exchange programs to
stop the spread of HIV, marijuana regulation, and treatment alternatives
that do not require incarceration as a prerequisite. Unfortunately, fear of
appearing "soft on crime" compels many 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, M.P.A.

Program Officer

Drug Policy Alliance

Washington, D.C.