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Decades into the policy called "War on Drugs," no real headway has been made.
The only progress that has been made is in the careers of politicians and bureaucrats who claim they want to end substance abuse. As a compassionate people we must ask if, within this war on drugs, we are doing what is most effective and most compassionate.
In "Inside congress" by Ronald Kessler, Robert Gellman, counsel and staff director of a House subcommittee declared about their setting up the drug czar, "we set it up so it wouldn't work." Thus they provided a scapegoat for failure. Kessler also documented charges by Joseph Califano of the House Ethics Committee that the Capitol police failed to follow leads of sales of marijuana, cocaine and PCP by congressional employees and capitol police.
Ignoring drug trafficking appears to be common. On Nov 4 the San Francisco Chronicle detailed a report declaring the CIA did little to nothing about Contra drug smuggling. On Nov 3, the Washington Post also ran a story stating that the CIA requested the holding back of drug charges involving alleged Contra drug dealers.
Dr Donald Abrams, a leader in AIDS research, exposed the absurdity of the war on drugs. After putting up with bureaucratic delays for his study of the effects cannabis might have on AIDS wasting syndrome, NIDA Director Alan Leshner refused to give him access to legal cannabis for the research (MAPS newsletter, Volume 5, No.4). These same people who have delayed and/or denied research now say, "We need more studies." As expected, this is also an area of inaccuracy and government interference.
Throughout the nation the debate over medicinal cannabis continues. In some cases, in strong contrast to the will of the people our government is suppose to serve. In Washington, D.C., the federal government has ruled that the votes of Ballot measure No.59 (medical marijuana) will not be counted. No matter how one feels about medical marijuana, does congress have the right to intentionally subvert the electoral process?
Adverse health effects are always a concern, such as carcinogens in marijuana, as there are over 200 carcinogenic in many "natural" substances. Many of these same substances also have anti-carcinogens. Carrots contain caffeic acid; broccoli spears contain allyl isothiocyante; apples contain acetaldehyde. All carcinogenic.
The claim that there are 10,000 studies exposing cannabis as harmful both physically and mentally has no basis in actual fact. Beverly Uranek research librarian at the University of Mississippi (the only legal cannabis plantation), said, "we are totally in the dark as to where the statement that there are 10,000 studies showing the negative impact of marijuana originated" (Medical Marijuana handbook).
What should be done about drug abuse? Seventy-five percent of drug abuse funds are spent on enforcement, according to the Washington Post article. Physician Leadership on National Drug Policy, after reviewing 600 studies, found treatment is effective in reducing drug abuse. In USA Today on March 18, Thomas McLellan noted that the cost of incarceration is greater than the price of effectiveness of treatment.
On Oct. 29 1991, a harm-reduction coalition observed more than three dozen human case studies of ibogaine's effectiveness in treating addiction. Forty percent were treated successfully. A few of the forty percent retried drugs but quickly lost interest. Another 36 percent were kept substantially drug free with treatments every six months ("The Ibogaine Story"). Acupuncture is another alternative treatment that has shown some success with both drugs and alcohol.(Lancet June 24 1998).
Prevent is the ultimate goal. Parents play a key role in preventing drug abuse in their children. As noted in "Don't panic A parent's Guide to Understanding and preventing Alcohol and Drug Abuse" parents must.
* Teach by example, practicing moderation in substances like food, and alcohol;
* talk openly and honestly to their children about drugs;
* Encourage the development of positive interest;
* Show their children that their decision matter.
Investigating factual documents and studies and understanding and treating those addicted are the first steps to controlling and lessening the drug problem. Our elected representatives must also begin to do what is right for citizens and not merely "feel good" actions to assist in reelection.
Charles Rollins Jr lives in North Pole
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