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tweakabelle -> Undercover cop abandons 'war on drugs' (8/26/2016 9:58:17 AM)
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Adding to the mounting evidence of the failure of the so-called 'War on Drugs', a UK undercover cop's experiences infiltrating the drug scene persuaded him that it was all a tragic waste of time and resources, with very damaging consequences for drug users and no hope of success.
"[Woods] cites a global study, conducted by the coalition government, of the impact that punitive drug policies have had on drug use. Its unambiguous conclusion, he says, was that “however harsh your measures – the death penalty, 20 years in prison – they have no impact on drug use”. Instead of wasting our time trying to reduce drug use, argues Woods, “drug policy should be about reducing not drug use, but drug harm.
The drug policy Woods wants is both simple and radical. Heroin should be prescribed by doctors to addicts, and every other drug sold under strictly regulated conditions. Even crack? “I went into the police believing that message, ‘One smoke of crack and you’re addicted for life.’ I remember seeing Nancy Reagan on TV saying that, and it’s literally a load of crap. There is no evidential basis in that statement at all.” Contrary to drug war propaganda, he says, only a small minority of drug users ever develop a problem, regardless of which substance they take. Across the board, the figure is roughly 10% – the same percentage of gamblers who become problematic, interestingly – the only exception being heroin, where it is 25%.”.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/aug/26/neil-woods-undercover-cop-who-abandoned-the-war-on-drugs
More and more enforcers of the redundant policy of prohibition are coming out against it, saying it has failed and failed irredeemably. Yet still our Govts who are perfectly aware of this, decline to act. It really is time to abandon the failed policy of prohibition and start regarding personal drug use as a personal health issue, not a criminal or legal problem.
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