| November 4, 1998 #071 | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
A DrugSense publication | ||||||||||||||||
This newsletter is available online at: | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
Table of Contents
| ||||||||||||||||
FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
User's Union | ||||||||||||||||
John Stein's a drug user. I'd call him a junkie, but he'd object. Like
"nigger" in the African-American community and "faggot" in the gay
community, "junkie" is a word in common use among addicts, but it's
politically incorrect when used by outsiders. The existence of drug
users political enough to police terminology is new. And they have a
long way to go before the public begins to listen to their demands.
Junkies and "crack heads" make up one of the few remaining groups it's
okay to look down on. | ||||||||||||||||
Stein's a spokesman for the North American User's Union (NAUU), a
loosely organized coalition of heroin and cocaine addicts. "John Stein"
is a pseudonym; he doesn't want to use his real name because his
parents don't know about his drug use and, though talking isn't
illegal, he doesn't trust the cops. Still, he's braver than other union
leaders, who won't talk at all because they don't trust the press.
There aren't many people addicts do trust. | ||||||||||||||||
"You're dealing with people who are more disenfranchised than any other
group," John explains. "A lot of our members are homeless or dependent
on public assistance. If they do work, they don't want their employers
to know they do drugs." | ||||||||||||||||
Drug use is not only illegal, but it is frowned upon by nearly everyone
in the community. Though the war on drugs has done little to deter
users from getting high, it has certainly succeeded in marginalizing
them. | ||||||||||||||||
The NAUU hopes to change that by making sure drug users have a voice in setting the policies that effect them. John, who lives in New York, was in town recently for the national conference of the Harm Reduction Coalition, a group working to minimize health damage among drug addicts. | ||||||||||||||||
"We want to make sure it's not just a bunch of social workers and public health workers telling us what's good for us," he says. The group's participation is similar to ACT UP, the advocacy group for people with AIDS, attending international AIDS conferences. | ||||||||||||||||
"The North American Users Union is now more of a concept than an actual
union," John admits. There's a core group of people around the country
and in Canada who are trying to organize users. At the recent Harm
Reduction Conference in Cleveland they hoped to formalize a structure
and a mission statement, and come up with a plan to build membership.
"We need a formal structure," John explains, "that's not centered on
one or two strong personalities. When it's personality centered, every
time someone gets busted or ODs or goes into treatment the whole thing
falls apart." | ||||||||||||||||
Many users support the idea but don't want to get involved. In some
ways, their reluctance is similar to workers' fears of unionizing,
except that instead of worrying about losing their jobs, they're afraid
of getting busted. But organizing addicts is even harder than
organizing workers, because so many are unstable physically and
emotionally. They're so obsessed with drugs that all they want to do is
get high, and if joining the union can't help them score, they're not
interested. | ||||||||||||||||
But that's what makes efforts like this one so important. Maybe if
users get involved in advocating for their rights they'll begin to see
there's more to life than getting high. One of the most difficult
things for an addict to overcome is a feeling of powerlessness to
change his situation, and most treatment programs today treat the
addict in a way that reinforces their lack of power. Real empowerment
means more than just a clean piss test. It means having a voice in
setting policies. | ||||||||||||||||
There are many issues NAUU organizers would like to get involved with in the future, from promoting needle exchanges to replacing methadone with heroin maintenance programs. They'd advocate for equal access to housing and health care, and for a woman's right to keep her children even if she uses drugs. And they'd push for better funding of drug treatment centers and research into the causes of addiction. John would like to see a more holistic approach to treatment that would include acupuncture, herbs, and experimental drugs like ibogaine. | ||||||||||||||||
"Just say no doesn't work," John insists. "It's not just about
abstinence. People should be given tools to manage their drug use in
order to decrease harmful financial, psychological, social and health
effects." He believes many of these harmful effects are due not to the
drugs themselves, but to their prohibition. He points out that
recreational use of cocaine and opium (from which heroin is derived)
was common around the turn of the century, but there were far fewer
problems associated with it because it wasn't illegal. | ||||||||||||||||
"People talk about decriminalization as if it would start the end of the world. But it's not so black and white. Are the current programs really in place to help drug addicts or to increase the number of police and take away our constitutional rights?" -Frank Green | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
"Droleg," Special News Item- COMMENT: (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
Just as the weekly items for this issue of the newsletter were being
assembled, a fascinating story was received from Switzerland. Swiss
democracy provides for initiatives, which when properly qualified and
receiving enough signatures, are then voted on in national referenda.
The one to be held on November 29th contains several initiatives,
including one for a 36 hour work-week. There is also "Droleg," which
calls for the government to regulate drug sales and eliminate criminal
penalties for possession and use of all drugs by Swiss citizens. This
article from a French language newspaper (Le Temps) relates a Swiss
government official's arguments against the initiative. We hope to
have more information next week. | ||||||||||||||||
Please notice that this story is three weeks old and that the initiative was qualified a long time ago. The biggest story for us may be that the American press, whether from disinterest or voluntary censorship, simply hasn't covered it. Could it be that a Swiss referendum on drug prohibition (like an earlier successful Swiss heroin maintenance trial) would be of no interest to American readers? | ||||||||||||||||
Another interesting point is that the officials' objections to the
initiative don't invoke the moralistic tone one might expect from an
American drug warrior; they merely portray Droleg's sponsors as naïve
and unrealistic. | ||||||||||||||||
DROLEG FERAIT DE LA SUISSE L'ENTREPOT EUROPEEN DES DROGUES | ||||||||||||||||
Bern - Federal councilwoman Ruth Dreifuss urged firmly that Switzerland
reject the Droleg initiative on November 29. On Friday, she sharply
criticized the Droleg propositions as naïve and said if enacted, they
would greatly increase drug consumption. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
Launched in German-speaking Switzerland by anti-prohibitionists, Droleg
expresses a dual hope: that a legal drug market will hurt traffickers and
the Mafia, by depriving them of their rich income from sale of illegal
narcotics; also that the vicious cycle of delinquency and prostitution in
order to procure drugs will be broken. Droleg supporters mistake their
desires for reality, said Dreifuss. She prefers the reasonable approach of
the federal Senate to their idealized vision. It doesn't neglect the
complexity of the problem nor forget the sufferings of drug addicts. "To
sell narcotics freely is like ignoring that drugs produce serious
dependencies," she accuses. | ||||||||||||||||
She adds that a legal drug market reserved for Swiss nationals would not
prevent a black-market from developing in Switzerland. "The country will
become the warehouse of narcotics and the hub of drug traffic in Europe",
stated Valentin Roschacher, Vice-Director of the Federal Office of the
Police. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
Drug Policy Potpourri- COMMENT: (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
A judge validated the use of pepper spray to shorten a non-violent
demonstration under the rubric of "pain compliance;" while not
directly related to drug policy, his decision dramatically points up
the yawning gulf between those who prize conformity over more humane
considerations. One man's "pain compliance" may be another man's
"torture." | ||||||||||||||||
The Boston City Council's vindictive action, as reported in the Globe,
seems more consistent with Seventeenth Century Salem than with
Twentieth Century Boston. | ||||||||||||||||
The article from the Arizona Republic sheds light on John Sperling, a major funder of reform who has received much less coverage than George Soros. His opposition to current policy is also far more unequivocal. | ||||||||||||||||
Dr. Elders' criticism of the Clinton Administration's glaring omission of needle exchange from a much-ballyhooed extra appropriation for AIDS was gratifying. It's also gratifying that her successor agrees. | ||||||||||||||||
JUDGE THROWS OUT PEPPER-SPRAY SUIT | ||||||||||||||||
SAN FRANCISCO - Saying police can use "pain compliance" to break up
sit-ins, a federal judge on Monday dismissed a lawsuit by anti-logging
protesters whose eyes were swabbed with pepper spray. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
"The uncontroverted evidence presented at trial unequivocally supports
the conclusion that the officers acted reasonably in using OC (pepper
spray) as a pain-compliance technique in arresting plaintiffs," Walker
wrote. | ||||||||||||||||
He said the pepper spray caused only "transient pain without
significant risk of physical injury" and was a legitimate means to end
the protesters' "organized lawlessness." No reasonable juror could
conclude otherwise, the judge said. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
COUNCIL VOTES TO USE TV TO AIR THOSE ARRESTED FOR DRUGS | ||||||||||||||||
Amid passionate objections that the measure would trample civil rights and drive some people to suicide, the City Council yesterday passed a resolution to put the photographs, names, and hometowns of those arrested for buying or selling drugs on cable television. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
MONEY MAN GETS BEHIND 5 PROPS | ||||||||||||||||
What 77-year-old man named John will have the most significant impact on
Arizonans in the next week? | ||||||||||||||||
Astronaut John Glenn? Wrong. | ||||||||||||||||
John Sperling, the founder of the University of Phoenix, will spend
more than $1 million - more than any single contributor - to persuade
voters to vote for or against five of the 14 statewide propositions on
Tuesday's ballot. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
On no subject is Sperling more passionate than his quest to end the war
on drugs, which he calls "a social disaster wrought by a bankrupt
policy." | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
LACK OF NEEDLE-EXCHANGE PLAN HURTS MINORITIES | ||||||||||||||||
Former Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders says the $156 million AIDS
package announced by President Clinton lacks a vital component for
minorities: a clean-needle exchange program. | ||||||||||||||||
More than 60 percent of AIDS cases among blacks and more than half of
all AIDS cases among Hispanics are related to injections by
contaminated needles, she said Saturday. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
Politicians who support the ban are reacting to conservative voters who
want the ban on moral grounds, Dr. Elders said. | ||||||||||||||||
"And they've silenced the rest of us," she said. "They seem to see
these deaths as casualties of war, just consequences of the war on
drugs. But these are American citizens that are dying when medical
intervention could save their lives." | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
Drug War Casualty Report | ||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
Every war produces casualties; a war against drugs is no exception.
Despite the implications of its title, its casualties are not drugs,
but people. Below are reports of people killed in action last week.
I'm sure after reading about the valiant efforts our police are making
to protect us, we'll all feel much safer. | ||||||||||||||||
Houston is the same city where six other policemen were just cleared
after lethally riddling a "suspect" whose apartment they had broken
into without a warrant. No drugs were found, but the unfortunate
victim did have an (unfired) gun which provided a compliant grand jury
all it needed to excuse yet another police killing. | ||||||||||||||||
OFFICERS KILL DRUG SUSPECT AFTER CHASE | ||||||||||||||||
A man suspected of buying or selling drugs near downtown Sunday was shot
and killed by seven Houston police officers after leading them on a chase
into Stafford. | ||||||||||||||||
The man, whose name was not available, was taken to Hermann Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. A passenger, who bailed out before the chase began, was injured and taken to Ben Taub Hospital with cuts and scrapes. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
SUSPECTED OREGON POT GROWER DIES IN SHOOTOUT, 2 DEPUTIES HURT | ||||||||||||||||
TILLER, Ore. - A suspected marijuana grower stormed out of his remote
forest home shooting yesterday, wounding two sheriff's deputies before
being killed himself in a hail of gunfire. | ||||||||||||||||
Seven officers from the Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team were serving a search warrant about 12:45 p.m. to the home, where they suspected marijuana was being grown, said Douglas County Sheriff's Lt. Norm Nelson. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
9-YEAR-OLD REJECTS PLEA BARGAIN, JUMPS TO DEATH | ||||||||||||||||
NEW YORK - A 19-year-old man apparently distraught over a prison sentence offered in exchange for his guilty plea in a drug case jumped through a courthouse window Thursday and fell 16 stories to his death. | ||||||||||||||||
``I'm 19 years old, your honor. That is terrible. That's
terrible,'' Derrick Smith told State Supreme Court Justice Budd Goodman,
according to a court transcript. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
Medical Marijuana- | ||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
This Newsletter is being composed in advance of the November 3 vote,
but won't be read until after the results are known. It now looks like
medical marijuana should pass handily in all venues except Nevada,
where it's expected to be a toss-up. There's also considerable
question if a winning vote will effect changes in either Colorado or
DC. Rather than rehash the tired pros and cons which appeared last
week in the media of voting states, it seems more appropriate to look
at overviews printed in major national media. | ||||||||||||||||
This could be the election which finally forces politicians to recognize that the same voters who are passing medical marijuana initiatives can also turn them out of office. Some newspaper editorial writers may be on the verge of the drawing the same conclusion. | ||||||||||||||||
A WAY TO EASE SUFFERING | ||||||||||||||||
Two years ago, stirred by tales of relief from patients and physicians,
not potheads, California and Arizona voted to let marijuana be used as
a treatment for pain and suffering. | ||||||||||||||||
But it never happened. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
In both cases, opponents of the initiative feared any tolerance of
marijuana would weaken the drug war. | ||||||||||||||||
Now, supporters are counterattacking. Medical marijuana initiatives have
multiplied threefold: They're on the ballot Tuesday in five more Western
states and the District of Columbia. And Arizonans will vote yet again: on
whether to affirm or repeal the legislature's roadblock to the 1996
initiative. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
The thumping votes for change in Arizona and California and the favorable pre-election polls in most places where it's on the ballot this year suggest the public is sending an important message: "Just say no" is no answer to suffering people and compassionate physicians. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
MEDICINAL MARIJUANA GAINS SUPPORT | ||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON - It's one thing for California, with its cannabis clubs and
pungent green fields of Humboldt County hemp, to legalize marijuana as
medicine. It's another in the nation's capital. The | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
DRUG OFFICIALS VEXED BY 5 STATES' INITIATIVES ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA | ||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON - Renee Emry walked into the office of Rep. Bill McCollum
last month and did something rarely seen in a congressional suite: She
lit up a marijuana cigarette. | ||||||||||||||||
Emry, 38, suffers from multiple sclerosis, and she wanted to urge
McCollum, a Florida Republican, to support legalization of marijuana as
medicine for patients like her. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
Not so easily ushered away is the issue. Medical marijuana initiatives
may be the first proposals for relaxing the drug laws that have gained
significant support since the war on drugs began in earnest in the
early 1980s. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
====================================================== | ||||||||||||||||
International News COMMENT: (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
This Vancouver Sun op-ed is remarkable for its unequivocal
condemnation of American-led international drug prohibition. A few
years ago, pieces like this never saw the light of day; now they are
even more common in Canada than here. In the body of his essay, Basham
casually reports a staggering fact: Vancouver expects 400 drug
overdose deaths this year. | ||||||||||||||||
The second article demonstrates Australia's cognition gap between
government prohibitionists intent on "sending messages" and realists
wanting to protect the health of employees. | ||||||||||||||||
There's something disturbing about America and China teaming up to
extort from S..L.O.R.C.; perhaps because historically, opium
production in the Golden Triangle owes so much to both the Chinese
Communists who drove remnants of Chiang's army into exile there and
also to the CIA which literally helped them get their new enterprise
off the ground. | ||||||||||||||||
Anyone familiar with Haiti's demographics and politics knows it has
the ideal profile to be enlisted as a "transit nation" in the
international drug trade. The editorial hand-wringing is so
predictable as to be almost comical. | ||||||||||||||||
It wouldn't be a normal week without an item from Colombia:
newly-elected President Pastrana was fortunate enough to visit while
Congress was in recess, however it's a safe bet that his goal of
making peace with the rebels will run head on into American reluctance
to scale back the war on growers. | ||||||||||||||||
A RECORD OF FAILURE: RE-EVALUATING THE WAR ON DRUGS | ||||||||||||||||
Despite police, prison and propaganda, illegal drugs are readily
available. A think-tank analyst argues that drug warriors have been
unable to demonstrate that social and economic benefits of prohibition
outweigh the costs. | ||||||||||||||||
Since drug prohibition became a Canadian reality in 1913, governments
have not seriously reconsidered drug policy, preferring instead to
follow whatever flawed "solution" may be currently in vogue. Such
desultory thinking has only served to retard health care, fuel the law
enforcement industry and empower organized crime. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
AIRLINE TO STICK BY PLANS FOR NEEDLE BINS | ||||||||||||||||
ANSETT Australia yesterday defended its decision to fit its
aircraft with syringe disposal bins following attacks from some drug
authorities. | ||||||||||||||||
The Queensland Opposition and the chairman of the Prime Minister's National Council on Drugs, Salvation Army Major Brian Watters, said the move sent a message that hard drug use was acceptable on flights. | ||||||||||||||||
But Ansett said the bins would make the job safer for its staff. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
US, CHINA TEAM UP IN DRUG WAR - REPORT | ||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States and China have established a
secret electronic surveillance post along China's border with Burma to
eavesdrop on narcotics trafficking from the Golden Triangle, one of the
world's biggest sources of heroin, the Washington Post reported
Saturday. | ||||||||||||||||
Quoting U.S. and Chinese sources, the newspaper said the Clinton
administration has also given China several dozen Jeep-like Humvee
vehicles for narcotics interdiction in mountainous terrain along the
Burmese border. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
FASTEST-GROWING TRANSIT POINT FOR U.S. BOUND COCAINE | ||||||||||||||||
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti--Sensing a singular opportunity in a country weakened by a paralyzed government and an inexperienced police force, Colombian and Dominican drug traffickers have made Haiti the fastest-growing transit point for cocaine on its way to the United States, American and Haitian law enforcement officials say. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT SEEKS TO EASE DRUG FRICTION WITH U.S. | ||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON - Colombian President Andres Pastrana says he wants to improve relations with the United States by eliminating drug trafficking as a source of tensions between the two countries. | ||||||||||||||||
"We need to `denarcoticize' our relations," he said upon arriving
yesterday in Washington for a three-day state visit. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
DRUGSENSE VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH (Top)Martin Cooke | ||||||||||||||||
This month the DrugSense NEWSHAWK OF THE MONTH Award is going to
another of our superb NewsHawks, who make the Media Awareness Project
possible. Martin Cooke has been a sterling example of our wide network
of active volunteers. | ||||||||||||||||
Martin's input has been high quality and consistent for a long, long
time. Martin is one of our "foreign correspondents" and has been
instrumental in helping to keep on top of International developments,
articles, and events. As a token of appreciation from all of us,
Martin will be receiving a personally autographed copy of DRUG CRAZY
from Mike Gray. Folks interested in helping Martin with the news
hawking effort may find the basic instructions at: | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
Thanks to Kevin Zeese for this update: | ||||||||||||||||
Our most recent ad in the New Republic, Marijuana Myths/Marijuana Facts
has been added to the web in a new Common Sense advertising section. The
new ads section is at: | ||||||||||||||||
The most recent ad is at: | ||||||||||||||||
In addition to the new ad, you can enlarge the drawing of McCaffery as
Pinocchio by John Wilson. | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
TIP OF THE WEEK | ||||||||||||||||
Election Results | ||||||||||||||||
It appears at this writing that every one of the various drug policy initiatives went in favor of reform. Some in a landslide. | ||||||||||||||||
Thanks to Karyn Fish of DRCNet for this effort and heads up: | ||||||||||||||||
I've collected links for several web sites that promise to provide
frequently updated coverage of the '98 medical marijuana initiative
returns. | ||||||||||||||||
You'll find the list at: http://www.drcnet.org/election98/ | ||||||||||||||||
Ongoing coverage at: http://www.mapinc.org/props.htm | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
`The people's right to change what does not work is one of the
greatest principles in our system of government' | ||||||||||||||||
- Richard M. Nixon - | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
FACT OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
In 1969, $65 million was spent by the Nixon administration on the drug
war; in 1982 the Reagan administration spent $1.65 billion; and in 1998
the Clinton administration requested $17.1 billion. | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
DS Weekly is one of the many free educational services DrugSense offers
our members. Watch this feature to learn more about what DrugSense can
do for you. | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
We wish to thank all our contributors and Newshawks. | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is
distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest
in receiving the included information for research and educational
purposes. | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
Please help us help reform. Send any news articles you find on any drug
related issue to | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
NOW YOU CAN DONATE TO DRUGSENSE ONLINE AND TAX DEDUCTIBLE | ||||||||||||||||
DrugSense provides many services to at no charge BUT THEY ARE NOT FREE TO
PRODUCE. | ||||||||||||||||
We incur many costs in creating our many and varied services. If you are
able to help by contributing to the DrugSense effort visit our convenient
donation web site at | ||||||||||||||||
-OR- | ||||||||||||||||
Mail in your contribution. Make checks payable to MAP Inc. send your
contribution to: | ||||||||||||||||
The Media Awareness Project (MAP) Inc. | ||||||||||||||||
|