‘20 — Friday, December 12, 1997 ~ North’ Shore News Public drug Patrick Basham Fraser Institute Columnist IN my neighborhood on the edge of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, a corner-store clerk refers to most residents as extras from The Night of The Living Dead. Welcome to the city’s so- called “Killing Fields,” where local health authorities declared a state of emergency after the sharing of needles among 6,000 herein and cocaine users produced the highest rate of HIV infection in the Western world. The annual cost of HIV/AIDS treatment for this area is a staggering $45 million. in many North American cities substance abuse is pub- lic health enemy No. 1. But can the myriad of social problems that feed off the illicit drug trade be toler- ated ad infinitum without a tranker public debate over the nature of drug polic The evidence suggests prohibition campaigns have met with mixed results, at best. Nearly three million Canadians have a family member with a drug prob- lem. British Columbia police estimate that 60% of all non- drug crime is motivated by drug use. The preterence for crack cocaine in Toronto, for example, is the result of pro- Daily 9-6 Saturday-Sunday 1 hibition, 2 reflection of the ceonomics ofa war on pow- dered cocaine. In 1995, $57.3 billion was spent in the United States on egal drugs. Such an unregulated, untaxed industry is, now surprisingly, a very profitable one that continues to attract entrepre- neurial entrants. Reductions in drug use since the carly 1980s have been among casual middle- class drug users. But drag use among hard-core users has remained constant. This suggests Our One-size-fits-all approach to drug policy is inefficient. Instead, a variety of approaches may be ne: Current laws, however, prevent us from drawing the ry distinctions n types of drug users: revealingly, most North American police officers do make this distinction. Use of the criminal justice system to significantly reduce illegal drug use appears inad- equate. For prohibition to succeed, is the only option an unprecedented infusion of | icy debate demandet public money inte law enforcement? This is the so- called “Singapore” model and one with little appeal to those with regard tor civil liberties. But there's a wide policy spectrum within which to place anv new drug policy ranging from authoritarian Singapore at one end, all the way to full-scale, free-market legalization at the other end. What’s critical is that such adebate be placed firmly upon the political agenda, and that we begin to engage in an operational discussion about whether, and how, to implement reasonable alter- natives to the status que, Ifit proves possible to legitimize the discussion of drug policy without condon- ing drug abuse to deter: mine where the pragmatic options lie — we niust answer the following ques - tions: the new & desigier Ep O€, ee Prk Royal South 1200 NEWd RELEASES * KIDS ¢ CLASSICS © SPORTS ¢ MUSIC o SCI-Fi a NORE F2US NINTENDO © PLAYSTATION © SEGA 3660 Vanness Avenue, Vancouver (1 Block N.W. of Boundary & Kingsway) 0-9509 MASTERCARD © DEBIT CARD If some drugs are illegal because they're dangerous, addictive, and produce unac- ceptable social consequences, do scientific appraisals of drug-related risks prove so- called “sott” drugs (ct, cannabis, cestasy) more closely mirror aleghol, tobac- cu, and nicotine than so- called “hard” drugs (e.2., heroin and cocaine )? How do (can) we make prohibition work better? The “harm reduction” approach secks to reduce the harmful effects of both drug use and prohibition by marrying drug enforcement with treat- ment and education. Advocates suggest, for example, that the public health benefits of free needle exchange programs exceed the moral costs of condoning drug use, Should our objective be learning to live with drugs so * Signature, Serger, OR LES 4 fabrics & decorative they cause the least possible social harm? Since 1994, the Swiss have experimented with supervised injections for 1,000 addicts at heroin maintenance clinics. The results suggest a drop in both illegal heroin and cocaine use and falling crime figures. Should anv legalization proceed gradually, beginning with sott drugs? What would be the effect upon children? Would legalization lead to more drug use, leading to even higher health costs? Could tt lead to even more crime by lowering inhibi- tions? Or would legalization result in a sater, cheaper product and fewer resources spent on aw enforcement? Public opinion isn’t ready for legalization, although reform is growing in accep- tanee. According to an Angus Reid poll, 51% of Canadians support the decriminalization of mari}i na, up trom 39% a decade ago. But public opinion img ready tora rational investifg tien of what has, and whag hasn't, worked domesticall and internationally; of , whether or nor it is time t use persuasion and educar rather than the use of fore) to shape people's artitudes and actions. Since British Prime Minister Tony Blaie appuir ed his first “dru czar,” hi country has begun a belad debate on the issue of ill drags. In Canada, the nee tor such a public airing of respectable, if differing, opinions on this highly emj uve subject is no less over due. : — Patrick Basham is Director of dw Soctal Aff Center at the Vancouver- based Fraser lustitute. VS. URDAY ONLY, « DECEMBER 13,1997. Reg. to $29.99/ * Reg. to $12.99/ea. save 40% Christmas Crafts (A Selection) save 40% Metuer ons All cut trims and by the spool, _Reg. to $12.99/m. *Downicwn Vancouver, —* Coquitam, 5th Floor, te Bay. 685-210 | 2773 Bamet Hay. 4641912 Bj “NORTH VANCOUVER * Maple Ridge, AS trims | Langley, 19250 Wilioworonk Or 633-4805 + Abbotstord THO West 14TH. St. 980-0555 22168 Loustaed Hay,4630067 32938 Ventura Ave. 053-3306 Burnaby, Su 7271 Giley Ave 490-8971 "20m 81 0326 * Chilliwack £6145 Yale Rd. 792-3378