JAILING NON-VIOLENT DRUG OFFENDERS IS NO ANSWER

June 23, 2002

Walker Overlin is to be commended for overcoming alcohol and drug addiction
and helping others do the same (Russ Pulliam column, June 16). A study
conducted by the RAND Corp. found that every additional dollar invested in
substance-abuse treatment saves taxpayers $7.46 in societal costs.

The tough-on-drugs approach is part of the problem. Criminal records are
hardly appropriate health interventions for substance abuse. Incarcerating
non-violent drug offenders with hardened criminals is the equivalent of
providing them with a taxpayer-funded education in anti-social behavior.

America's drug problem is far too serious to allow zero tolerance to
dominate the debate at the expense of public health. According to the U.S.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 57 percent of AIDS cases among
women are linked to injection drug use or sex with partners who inject
drugs. Overall, 36 percent of AIDS cases in the United States can be traced
back to intravenous drug use.

This easily preventable public health crisis is a direct result of
zero-tolerance laws that restrict access to clean syringes. Drug abuse is
bad, but the zero-tolerance drug war is worse.

Robert Sharpe, Program officer, Drug Policy Alliance, Washington, D.C.