News (Media Awareness Project) - US FL: Column: First We Must Define Who Is a Drug Abuser |
| Title: | US FL: Column: First We Must Define Who Is a Drug Abuser |
| Published On: | 2002-05-08 |
| Source: | Pensacola News Journal (FL) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-23 08:28:57 |
VIEWPOINT: FIRST WE MUST DEFINE WHO IS A DRUG ABUSER
John Chase in his letter to editor ("Use and abuse," April 10, page
9A) makes an important point about the need to distinguish between the
use and AB- use of drugs.
This apparently minor semantical distinction has a critical effect on
Florida drug policy under Gov. Jeb Bush and Drug Czar James McDonough.
Their stated drug strategies include "reducing drug abuse in Florida
at least 50 percent by the year 2005." Never mind that such lofty and
quixotic plans have failed miserably both statewide and nationwide
over the past two decades.
The crucial flaw in their plan is they fail to note the difference
between the use and the AB-use of drugs. Therefore the criminal
justice system and the drug treatment system are overly burdened with
thousands of Floridians who quite simply have done nothing more
"abusive" than possessing small amounts of marijuana.
Florida arrests over 40,000 citizens annually for simple marijuana
possession. These arrestees are deemed "drug abusers" and are either
incarcerated in the county jail system or coerced into a treatment
program to "cure" them of their sickness.
Meanwhile, those truly in need of appropriate and qualified drug
treatment programs are left on long waiting lists. Eighty percent of
those who need treatment for alcohol and other drug abuse can't get it
when needed. Bush and McDonough throw up their hands and cite
terrorist attacks on New York and other detrimental influences on the
Florida budget as reasons to slash vitally needed drug treatment funds
in Florida prisons and also at the local level.
Simply acknowledging the fact that tens of thousands of Florida
marijuana users are not drug abusers would free up millions of
dollars, and we could finally see some real progress in improving
overall health and safety in Florida.
Until this happens, Floridians will be doomed to being routed through
the criminal justice system without rational cause, ad nauseam.
~~~~~~~~
Stephen Heath is with the Drug Policy Forum of Florida in Clearwater.
John Chase in his letter to editor ("Use and abuse," April 10, page
9A) makes an important point about the need to distinguish between the
use and AB- use of drugs.
This apparently minor semantical distinction has a critical effect on
Florida drug policy under Gov. Jeb Bush and Drug Czar James McDonough.
Their stated drug strategies include "reducing drug abuse in Florida
at least 50 percent by the year 2005." Never mind that such lofty and
quixotic plans have failed miserably both statewide and nationwide
over the past two decades.
The crucial flaw in their plan is they fail to note the difference
between the use and the AB-use of drugs. Therefore the criminal
justice system and the drug treatment system are overly burdened with
thousands of Floridians who quite simply have done nothing more
"abusive" than possessing small amounts of marijuana.
Florida arrests over 40,000 citizens annually for simple marijuana
possession. These arrestees are deemed "drug abusers" and are either
incarcerated in the county jail system or coerced into a treatment
program to "cure" them of their sickness.
Meanwhile, those truly in need of appropriate and qualified drug
treatment programs are left on long waiting lists. Eighty percent of
those who need treatment for alcohol and other drug abuse can't get it
when needed. Bush and McDonough throw up their hands and cite
terrorist attacks on New York and other detrimental influences on the
Florida budget as reasons to slash vitally needed drug treatment funds
in Florida prisons and also at the local level.
Simply acknowledging the fact that tens of thousands of Florida
marijuana users are not drug abusers would free up millions of
dollars, and we could finally see some real progress in improving
overall health and safety in Florida.
Until this happens, Floridians will be doomed to being routed through
the criminal justice system without rational cause, ad nauseam.
~~~~~~~~
Stephen Heath is with the Drug Policy Forum of Florida in Clearwater.
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