TREATING ADDICTION

As noted in your May 4 editorial, Canadian taxpayers unwittingly shelled
out $250,000 for a federal study stating the obvious.

That alcohol is the drug most often associated with violent behaviour is
well-established. Forcibly limiting the supply of illegal drugs while
demand remains constant only increases the profitability of drug
trafficking. In terms of addictive drugs such as heroin, a spike in street
prices leads desperate addicts to increase criminal activity to feed their
habits.

The drug war doesn't fight crime, it fuels crime. Canada would be wise to
follow Europe's lead. Pragmatic harm-reduction policies such as needle
exchange to stop the spread of HIV, marijuana regulation to separate the
hard and soft drug markets, and treatment alternatives that do not require
incarceration as a prerequisite have proven more effective than zero
tolerance. Canada's southern neighbour, the current record holder in
citizens incarcerated, is hardly an ideal role model.

Robert Sharpe

Washington, D.C.

Robert Sharpe is a program officer with the Drug Policy Alliance.