Trevor and Ken are right. The War on Drugs is a massive failure on ever level.
Addicts should be treated as the dick people they are, not criminalised. Treating addicts is far likelier to help them back to health than locking them up in Pollsmoor with genuine criminals. Portugal has indeed shown the way here. Alcohol is a very dangerous drug and is responsible for much death and destruction. Yet the majority of people in society are able to enjoy a glass of wine or beer without becoming alcoholics. And when people FO become alcoholics, we have many institutions available to help them overcome their addiction. Society has realized that prohibiting alcohol consumption does not affect the demand for alcohol - it just allows criminal organizations to flourish as they supply the demand. Just like prohibiting drugs do today. The comedian Russel Brand, a former heroin addict, recently testified in a UK parliamentary hearing on drug policy. Getting arrested he said, was not an event in his life, it was just an 'administrative blip' as he was back on the smack directly he was released. What is needed, he reckons is more live and compassion for those suffering addiction. On 13 Jul 2012, at 9:53 AM, Rosemary Robins <[email protected]> wrote: > See Cape Times Friday - letter from Ken Owen. > > On Tue, Jul 10, 2012 at 4:53 PM, Trevor Hughes <[email protected]> wrote: > Thanks Jodi > > I think it is quite relevant for the group - we hear a lot that drug > abusers are the cause of all the social ills and crime. Fixing a broken > system (current drug policy) should be at the forefront of our discussion as > it seems to be one of the leading causes of crime. > > I have watched The Union and a host of other films and encourage others to do > the same. > > Trev > > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "The Observatory Neighbourhood watch" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/obsnw?hl=en. > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "The Observatory Neighbourhood watch" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/obsnw?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Observatory Neighbourhood watch" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/obsnw?hl=en.
