cannabisnews.com: Drug Policy Poster Boys Drug Policy Poster Boys Posted by FoM on May 10, 2001 at 21:16:49 PT By William Raspberry Source: Washington Post Haven't Darryl Strawberry and Robert Downey Jr. been given enough "second" chances? Isn't it time to let justice do its thing and put these two jokers away for long, long stretches? Only the saints among us haven't been tempted to ask some version of those questions. Only the fools among us think long-term incarceration would do much for either of these celebrated junkies -- or for the rest of us.Our confusion on what to do about Strawberry and Downey -- both of whom have been in trouble, repeatedly, for a variety of drug-connected offenses -- is a pretty fair reflection of our confusion regarding drug policy in general. At one end of the spectrum are those who say that the law is the law, and that those who break it get the punishment they deserve. At the other are those who, though they might punish severely any theft or violence associated with acquiring drugs, believe the chief victim of drug abuse is the drug abuser. What's the point of punishing a guy who's already killing himself?But most of us slop around in the middle. The first view ignores our feeling that addicts are sick people for whom punishment is likely to be useless, but the second overlooks the probability that he's-only-doing-it-to-himself permissiveness will tempt more people into abuse.We want to punish in order to deter, but we understand that Strawberry and Downey -- and who knows how many scores of thousands more? -- cannot be punished or shamed into sobriety. It's almost like bringing charges against a guy who tries to throw himself in front of a train.Is there a rational middle ground -- some reasonable place between long-term incarceration of the ill and decriminalization? What should we do with a Darryl Strawberry?I put the question to Howard Simon, an official of the Partnership for a Drug-Free America."Strawberry is a tragic case," said Simon. "Here is a guy who has a disease, plain and simple. No matter what you think about the law, we need to find some way to have him get the help he so obviously needs. If there is no treatment, we're not helping. That's the first thing we need to understand: This is a very serious disease. The good news is, it's treatable."But treatment doesn't work for people who are not yet ready to kick their addictions. It's our exasperation with people who, like Strawberry and Downey, keep going through the cycle of abuse, discovery, remorse, treatment and abuse again that makes us want to stop the game and toss them in jail. Listen to Simon:"Sometimes cancers recur. Sometimes cancer patients don't follow their doctor's orders. But that doesn't mean we're supposed to throw people on the scrap heap. It costs too much -- from their point of view, obviously, but also from ours, including financially. A Rand Corp. study says every dollar you spend on treatment saves you seven dollars down the road, in crime and other costs, including the cost of incarceration."He'd not only make treatment widely available. For people like Downey and Strawberry, he might coerce treatment."Treatment is great, fantastic, and I hope the nation gets behind it."But prevention is even better. The people who say that you can't achieve a drug-free society so you shouldn't try have got it wrong. You can't achieve a cancer-free society, either, but don't tell researchers they should stop looking for ways to stop cancers from occurring in the first place."That is the partnership's role in the drug wars. This organization of media and communications professionals was founded in 1987 with the simple premise that if you can use media to sell things, you can use media to unsell things -- including drug use."There may not be much we can do about a Strawberry or a Downey," said Simon, the partnership's associate director of public affairs. "For those guys, drug use is really not a choice. What we try to do is help kids in their teens to reject drugs while it is still a choice, and for that they need both information and encouragement in making good choices."It is, of course, what we do in the case of tobacco. We promote social sanctions against smoking, publish the health horror stories, develop treatment protocols and pass laws against sales to minors. What we don't do is put nicotine addicts in jail.Source: Washington Post (DC) Author: William RaspberryPublished: Friday, May 11, 2001; Page A45 Copyright: 2001 The Washington Post Company Contact: letterstoed washpost.comWebsite: http://www.washingtonpost.comRelated Articles:Learning From Robert Downey Jr. http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9630.shtmlDrugs, Downey, Strawberry, Junkies and Hypocrites http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9560.shtmlA Draco of Drugs - William Raspberryhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/9/thread9548.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #7 posted by swampie on May 12, 2001 at 03:01:34 PT freedom of choice As a former crack addict(11 years ago),I know all too well how easy it can be to want these things.These guys need a bunch of determination to get away from their addictions.It took me 2 years away from it to even be able to talk about it without getting the shakes!I smoked alot of cannabis to help the cravings.It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that if you want or need help to get away from something,you go get help!If these people can't ask for help,a doctor or two can have them put into a mental wellness program without their consent.There they can address the physical addictions too.It takes friends who care and real compassion to help these people,not the police!Unless they are doing something violent or real "criminal",it should be up to them or their families/friends to help them get help!Not the law!!If some drugs were legalized,most people would not have these addictions.They would decide for themselves what they want to put into their bodies.Most people I know drink alcohol WHEN and IF they want to,just because I offer them a beer doesn't mean I'm going to get a funnel and pour it down their throats if they don't want it!AND,as a friend,I would never,ever offer them more than would be safe for them to drive home on!I would expect the same from them also..Nobody should have to go to jail for making the right choices!It's OK to have a 12 pack in your car,but if you have a joint,you go straight to jail???Might as well go to Hell,because that's exactly where this whole freakin'country is going if they don't quit tearing up otherwise law-abiding families with this asinine WAR!Are you at war,Mr.Raspberry?Remember,too many BARRYS'can give you the RUNS!!!!!!!! SWAMPIE [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by Pontifex on May 11, 2001 at 10:37:28 PT: Berries of Wrath Hey folks,Please note this telling remark from Howard Simon, the only person interviewed in this article:For those guys, drug use is really not a choice.Since Downey and Strawberry have no ability to refuse drugs, so the implication goes, the law must do it for them.We all know how false and malicious that statement is. No one can say for sure why Downey and Strawberry do the drugs they do. But every drug they ingest is the result of a conscious choice and often meticulous planning.Darryl Strawberry busted out of rehab to do drugs. Robert Downey risked his career and his life for his fix. Either could have chosen treatment if they wanted it -- they're not paupers -- but they preferred drugs.If a dangerously overweight person busts out of the fat farm for a fatty food binge, should he be jailed as a threat to himself?This was choice, not coerced behavior. It's hard to argue, in today's climate, that private choices should be controlled by law. It's much easier to say that addicts are zombies controlled by their habits and therefore, like the criminally insane, have lost their free will and must become wards of the state.Let's resist this Orwellian logic! [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by kaptinemo on May 11, 2001 at 03:59:40 PT: I tend to agree with 4D Raspberry is the quintissential fence-sitter.I've read his on-again, off-again articles on the Drugwar for years. It seems that he always pulls up just short of the realization that nearly everyone here has; the DrugWar is a terrible botch.One minute, it looks like it's on the tip of his tongue; thre truth about to spring from his lips and inform the world he has come to the conclusion, after much soul searching, thet he has Seen The Light. The next, he's running to the likes of the PFDFA for advice. Which, like most anti organizations, is now trying to steal our thunder, co-opt our fire, and stand foursquare for 'treatment'...when all they wanted to do in the past was lock up all the N*****s and S***s who might invade their gated communities and sell weed to precious little Johnny and Suzy - who already buy theirs on the playground of their private school, anyway. From 'one of their own'. Considering that Raspberry is Black, it makes me wonder out loud again: why do so many amongst the African-American leadreship, who are the direct, deliberate, and fully-intentional targets of the DrugWar (just read what Harry Anslinger said about 'the degenerate races') keep supporting what is in essence the last remnant of Jim Crowe laws?Mr. Raspberry is in dire need of an ammonia capsule to wake him from the anti-induced propaganda 'twilight-sleep' he seems to be suffering from.For his sake, I hope he doesn't accompany any missionary flights to Peru. Then he'll get a real wake-up call as to the costs of this damnable Drugwar... [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by J.R. Bob Dobbs on May 11, 2001 at 03:24:27 PT Bad Drug Laws Kill People >>I put the question to Howard Simon, an official of the Partnership for a Drug-Free America. Oh yeah. There's an impartial source with no financial stake in the drug war for ya! Uh-huh.>>"Strawberry is a tragic case," said Simon. "Here is a guy who has a disease, plain and simple. No matter what you think about the law, we need to find some way to have him get the help he so obviously needs. If there is no treatment, we're not helping. That's the first thing we need to understand: This is a very serious disease. The good news is, it's treatable." OK, I know the PDFA dude is referring to Strawberry's cocaine addiction. But reread the above quote and consider that Strawberry's also got cancer and is undergoing chemo, and is vomiting his guts out because of said chemo. Strawberry could be a prime candidate for medical marijuana, but the government won't even think of it... so who's killing him? [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Robbie on May 11, 2001 at 01:08:21 PT bush-it "But prevention is even better. The people who say that you can't achieve a drug-free society so you shouldn't try have got it wrong. You can't achieve a cancer-free society, either, but don't tell researchers they should stop looking for ways to stop cancers from occurring in the first place."Cancer is not a living human being with rights of freedom and democracy. Drugs are integral in our society, yet (s)ome of us can't abide by someone else doing thier own thing. It is more symptomatic of a fascist regime now that we've been bushwhacked.It is, of course, what we do in the case of tobacco. We promote social sanctions against smoking, publish the health horror stories, develop treatment protocols and pass laws against sales to minors. What we don't do is put nicotine addicts in jail.Thank you for your stand, Mr. Raspberry. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by dddd on May 10, 2001 at 23:38:18 PT Tiptoeing about It seems to me that the Raz might have tinted this article tokeep Willy Bennett happy.......After the Bennetster blastedRaspberrys previous article that raised questions about thedrug war,,it appears that Raz has decided to tiptoe around theother side of the fence to keep the anti cartel happy.Perhapshe got in trouble with his employers at the Post,who probablygot leaned on by their superiors.....This was a rather milquetoast article.Raspberry knows who butters his toast,,but I think maybe in his own mind,Mr.Raspberryknows how disgusting and devious this drug war fiasco actually is................................d...........d.............d.....................d [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by MDG on May 10, 2001 at 22:14:15 PT: Another foolish analogy for the trash heap: You can't achieve a cancer-free society, either, but don't tell researchers they should stop looking for ways to stop cancers from occurring in the first place.When was the last time someone asked, Hey, you know where I can hook up with some Cancer?Friggin' moronic logic.Mike... 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