cannabisnews.com: U.S. Government Isn’t Doing Well in Drug War 





U.S. Government Isn’t Doing Well in Drug War 
Posted by FoM on April 14, 2000 at 07:00:26 PT
Letter To the Editor from Phillip W. Brown
Source: Evansville Courier & Press
The United States’ idea of winning the drug war appears to be one of trying to make drugs scarce by doing everything from increasing border patrols to educating pharmacists about prescription drug diversion. However, as drugs become scarce, illegal and prescription street drug prices go up. 
This, in turn, means an escalation in drug-related robberies, thefts from area merchants, male and female prostitution, pharmacy burglaries and even elite white-collar crimes. This just doesn’t seem very productive or too successful in winning the drug war locally or nationally in the long run. Another way law enforcement and judicial officials try to win the drug war is through mandatory prison sentences, with no chance of early release. Yet, rapists and child molestors get out in less time than drug offenders in the less-publicized cases. Half our prison population, according to statistics, is there on drug-related charges. Each year an offender is housed in state and federal human warehouses, he costs taxpayers several thousand dollars. Why not use the money spent fighting drugs to subsidize hospital rehabilitation programs and to educate our youth about the dangers of drugs? As it stands, most treatment centers, hospitals and private facilities will not accept drug addicts without proof of insurance coverage (and the majority of drug addicts somehow forget to pay their insurance premiums). Today’s young people are learning a lot more at a very early age. Let’s make drug education a part of their early learning curriculum in schools and day- care centers, and make “Red Ribbon Week” all year long. Phillip W. Brown Putnamville Correctional Facility Greencastle, Ind. Evansville Courier & Press Thursday, April 13, 2000 Related Articles:Treatment, Education Key Drug War Weapons http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread5307.shtmlEducation, Treatment Key in Fighting Drugs http://homepages.go.com/~marthag1/dexnews.htm
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Comment #1 posted by john on April 14, 2000 at 08:56:26 PT:
know what i did red ribbon week?
Red ribbion week was/is just an all out toke fest for me and my friends. I would love to have that all year long.
[ Post Comment ]

Post Comment


Name: Optional Password: 
E-Mail: 
Subject: 
Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message]
Link URL: 
Link Title: