| March 10, 2000 #140 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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A DrugSense publication | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Table of Contents
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FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
True Reform May Depend on the 'Greedy' Lawyers | ||||||||||||||||||||||
By JOSEPH D. MCNAMARA | ||||||||||||||||||||||
STANFORD--If high-powered lawyers experienced in police-brutality cases
ever pool their resources and wage the common fight against alleged
lawlessness at Rampart Division, the Los Angeles Police Department may
have no alternative but to reinvent itself. To be sure, cops and most
Angelenos will be skeptical of these lawyers, among them Johnnie L.
Cochran Jr. and R. Samuel Paz, launching civil suits in the name of
reforming police practices. They know lawyers usually sue to collect
multimillion-dollar fees. Ironically, however, the outrage over the
size of the potential settlements, which may bankrupt the city, could
create the necessary political mandate to reform the LAPD for the first
time in more than 40 years. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The department certainly has been insulated from the winds of reform. Responding to the progressive movement's conviction that city-hall politics corrupt police, Los Angeles citizens approved a city charter in 1925 that gave the Police Department extraordinary freedom from political oversight and extended Civil Service tenure to the police chief. In addition, the Police Protective League, the union of rank-and-file officers, has evolved into a powerful political force. Few who coveted political office were inclined to displease the LAPD because some people complained about its aggressive policing tactics. Then and now, politicians need endorsements more than controversy. Consequently, the LAPD was able to avoid reforms imposed on other departments and do things its own way: a military style of policing. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
When testifying in 1991 before the Christopher Commission, appointed to
investigate the LAPD after the police beating of Rodney G. King, some
officers said that the culture of the department accepted the use of
unnecessary force. The commission also learned that the department
wasn't receptive to complaints against officers, let alone conducting
impartial investigations of them and administering appropriate
discipline. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Bernard C. Parks, the current chief, is far more discipline-minded than
his predecessors, but he opposes an independent investigation of his
department, because, he says, the Rampart scandal is limited to a
relatively small number of officers, a claim that seems premature in
what he describes as a continuing investigation. Inevitably, some
people will interpret his resistance to an outside inquiry as a sign of
his intention to limit the scope of the scandal. As a result, the
public may learn more about the pervasiveness of corruption in the
Police Department through civil lawsuits. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The Board of Inquiry report released last week, for all its candor and
commendable self-criticism, does not cite the department's fundamental
military style of policing as responsible for the horrible police
crimes alleged by former Officer Rafael Perez, whose disclosures
exposed the police misconduct at Rampart. Rather than calling for the
development of a new style of policing, the report focuses on internal
management practices. It contends that a few rotten apples, binge
hiring, inadequate training, haphazard supervision, failure to hold
supervisors accountable and other personnel shortcomings were the
sources of the problems at Rampart. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
All these should be addressed in any reform efforts. Yet, it should be
noted that these kinds of excuses are the staples of police departments
embarrassed by the unmasking of gangster cops in their ranks. But a
troubling question arises: How can relatively few criminals wearing
badges commit so many crimes for so many years without being reported
by honest officers? In the LAPD, why weren't suggestions that some cops
were robbing drug dealers and selling drugs handled the way the L.A.
Sheriff's Department dealt with a similar scandal a decade ago? The
Sheriff's Department sought FBI help and set up a sting operation that
caught one of the suspected cops stealing money. Confronted with a
stiff prison sentence, he helped trap other crooked deputies. In the
end, 29 deputies were convicted. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
In contrast, the LAPD and the district attorney are in the unhappy
position of having to rely on Perez, a witness discredited by his own
admissions. A year before Perez was arrested for stealing cocaine and
decided to blow the whistle, the LAPD promised a thorough investigation
of complaints that cops were robbing drug dealers and selling drugs.
Why did the LAPD and the district attorney fail to ask for federal help
in setting up a sting operation like the ones that have nailed corrupt
cops in other cities? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Because there is no reason to believe that such questions were even
asked, the lawyers fixing their sights on the LAPD are looking at a
target-rich environment, to borrow a phrase from Gen. Colin L. Powell.
The alleged misconduct at Rampart is consistent with that carried out
by the convicted deputy sheriffs a decade ago and by cops elsewhere who
confessed to crimes similar to those Perez describes. All these rogue
cops indicated that their departments supported "a kind of
street-justice culture." Cops who used too much force were supported by
a code of silence, which became so strong that even criminal cops were
sheltered by it. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The primary reason the code prevailed was that police departments were
pressuring their officers to engage in confrontational policing, which
often escalated to the use of force. Citizen complaints followed. The
unwritten contract was that police management knew cops who produced a
high volume of arrests would also be subject to complaints, and the
officers had to be supported. Political leaders and police chiefs began
to believe their own rhetoric that "wars" on drugs and crime were
effective. Cops were soldiers going up against an enemy, not public
servants who enforced the law and protected and served neighborhoods,
regardless of affluence, race or ethnicity. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The Rampart scandal and how to investigate it has turned into a finger-pointing political circus. Mayor Richard Riordan says he is "proud" of the way the department is handling the inquiry. He sees no need for an independent investigation. The City Council, meanwhile, is divided over the merits of such an investigation. The Police Commission's relationships with the chief and mayor appear strained, and, in any case, the commission seems to be split over who should lead an inquiry. Given all this infighting and fractiousness, it may well be that the public will only learn the truth about the magnitude of LAPD corruption when civil lawsuits strip away the layers of political spin. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"Greedy" lawyers, not idealism, may thus end up provoking citizens in Los Angeles to demand that those who enforce the law should also obey it. When police behave lawfully, people can tell the good guys from the bad. Folks don't have to worry about cops shooting their teenagers or framing them, or plunging their city into bankruptcy. - - - | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Joseph D. Mcnamara Is the Retired Police Chief of San Jose and a Research Fellow at the Hoover Institution. His Forthcoming Book Is "Gangster Cops: the Hidden Cost of America's War on Drugs." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Past letters and columns by Joseph D. McNamara may be found at:
http://www.mapinc.org/mcnamara.htm | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Rampart coverage at: http://www.mapinc.org/rampart.htm | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Domestic News- Policy COMMENT: (1-2) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Signs of progress: a forthright Denver Post analysis of drug war
failure was authored by a political insider; the Boston Globe
published an intelligent Op-Ed noting the absence of drug policy
issues in Campaign 2000. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) COLUMN: DRUG WAR HAD TO FAIL (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The war on drugs is a complete failure because it's based on false
premises. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A drug-free society is almost certainly not possible or even
desirable. This leads to such incredible spectacles as Bill "Two Pack
a Day" Bennett as drug Czar. (Enforcing ideological purity is easier if
you're not too sensitive to hypocrisy.) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(2) APART FROM PERSONAL USE, A KEY ISSUE STAYS AWAY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The war on drugs, which is likely to get another huge boost in funds, seems to be missing in action in the presidential campaign. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The candidates' silence on drug policy, analysts say, may be
attributable to the lack of easy solutions. Or it may stem from a
widely shared belief that any position even hinting at reducing
penalties for drug use would be political suicide. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
''The drug war is the biggest head-in-the-sand issue in American policy, and we hope the candidates face up to it,'' said Kevin B. Zeese, president of Common Sense for Drug Policy, a nonprofit group based in Falls Church, Va. ''It's always been safe to do more of the same, but now more of the same is getting to be absurdly expensive. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (3-5) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Meanwhile, drug warriors face their own problem: how to frighten the
public into granting more money and power without admitting policy
failures? The traditional solution is to hold a conference of
"experts," to preach at, scold, and scare parents. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Unfortunately for the warriors, reports of ecstasy use among young
urban, middle class whites - not as easy to demonize as poor rural
meth users - continue to increase. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(3) MAKING CAMPUSES DRUG-FREE TOPIC OF BRAINSTORMING SESSION (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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SIMI VALLEY-One day after a state report showed that students are
continuing to use and sell drugs in California public schools, a panel
of educators at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library brainstormed
ways to make campuses drug-free. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The suggestions Wednesday weren't new: drug tests, locker searches, after-school activities, parental involvement, peer counseling. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
But the urgency was. No longer are teens smoking just cigarettes and
marijuana. Experts say they are increasingly experimenting with--and
becoming addicted to--crack, speed and heroin. And the tolls are
alarming: teenagers dropping out of school, getting pregnant or
committing suicide. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(4) MOST PARENTS CAUGHT UNAWARE OF RISING DRUG, 'RAVE CULTURE' (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Adam and Eve, Special K and Vitamin K don't only refer to paradise and a healthy breakfast anymore. These are also the names of some popular drugs circulating in dance clubs and rave parties across the country. It is common knowledge for most teens, but not for their parents. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(5) IT'S ALL THE RAVE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
By John Cloud | ||||||||||||||||||||||
SUDDENLY PEOPLE ALL OVER THE country are talking about "ecstasy" as if it
were something other than what an eight-year-old feels at Disney World.
Occasionally the trickle from the fringe to the heartland turns into a
slipstream, and that seems to have happened with the heart-pulsing, mildly
psychedelic drug called ecstasy. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The busts have had little effect. Nationwide, customs officers have already
seized more ecstasy this fiscal year (nearly 3.3 million hits) than in all
of last year; in 1997, they seized just 400,000 hits. In a 1998 survey, 8%
of high school seniors said they had tried e, up from 5.8% the year before.
In New York | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"We're seeing more and more hardened criminals," says Cees van Doorn, a
Dutch organized- crime specialist. They are drawn by the profits. After
setup the marginal cost of each pill is maybe 10 cents . It's sold in New
York City clubs for $30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (6-7) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Law enforcement credibility is still plummeting; this analysis by a
conservative, "law and order" newspaper underscores the profound
effect of our bi-coastal police scandals. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Speaking of bi-coastal; are New York's skirts clean enough to justify
this obnoxious finger pointing? Didn't the Diallo and Louima cases
encourage any introspection- or is Giuliani surrounded by yes-papers
as well as yes-men? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(6) EDITORIAL: COPS UNDER SIEGE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
SCANDALS IN NEW YORK, L.A. COULD HAPPEN ANYWHERE | ||||||||||||||||||||||
At a time when the crime rate has plummeted all across the country, you
might expect the nation's police to be universally hailed as heroes. In
an odd turn, they are under siege as never before. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Joseph McNamara, the respected former police chief of San Jose, has
been sounding the alarm for some time. He blames the hyper ventilated
rhetoric about "the war on drugs," which sends the wrong message to
police - that they are soldiers and the accused is the enemy. In a war,
the enemy is not entitled to the constitutional protections that
safeguard us all. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Whom should we blame? Politicians with their rabid tough-on-crime rhetoric; the public, which has been seduced by it; and, yes, even the media, who've fanned the flames with reporting that's too often long on sensationalism and short on thoughtful analysis. We are all to blame. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(7) EDITORIAL: L.A.'S UNGOVERNABLE POLICE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Los Angeles is not the only American city that has problems with its
police department, but the L.A.P.D. seems uniquely hospitable to rogue
cops and uniquely resistant to reform. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
But what appears to be a feud between Mr. Garcetti and Mr. Parks - as
well as plummeting public confidence in the police - have prompted
federal and state authorities to step into the case. Both Mr. Garcetti
and Mr. Parks have denied the existence of a turf war. But given the
city's mediocre record of policing its own police, federal intervention
may be exactly what is needed to get to the bottom of a deep, systemic
problem. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (8-9) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Two collateral law enforcement issues received unusually intelligent
treatment in mainstream newspapers: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The Washington Post, while supporting the more police-friendly Senate
bill, at least got some basic forfeiture issues right; the Houston
Chronicle's Thom Marshall has been zeroing in on unfair drug laws with
rare candor; go, Thom, go! | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(8) DC: EDITORIAL: CARS, CASH AND CRIME (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
THE SENATE Judiciary Committee is scheduled today to take up the question of civil asset forfeiture, a procedure under which the government takes property used to commit crimes. The idea is unassailable: If you use your boat to ship drugs, you lose the boat. In practice, however, asset forfeiture has become a dicey business, largely because the rules are stacked in the government's favor. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A Senate bill sponsored by Judiciary Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch
(R-Utah) and ranking member Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) does better. It too
would shift the burden of proof to the government, but it would make it
somewhat easier for authorities to prove their case than the
Hyde-Conyers bill does. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(9) COLUMN: SEPARATING JURORS FROM THEIR PEERS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Serving as a juror can be an awkward-feeling, strange-fitting task for
many of us. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
There you are, one-twelfth of the most important part of a jury trial.
Yet you aren't required to know anything about the job when you report
to work. You haven't been tutored about how to weigh evidence on the
scales of justice. You haven't had to memorize any rules or answer any
test questions about what a juror may or may not do. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
As a matter of fact, the less you know about being a juror, the more
likely you are to get picked to be one. Judges and prosecutors
generally don't want jurors who know too much. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
They don't want jurors who understand jury nullification enough to know
that they can acquit a factually guilty defendant if they determine a
law is unjust or unjustly applied. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (10) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
An investigative series took dead aim on how Virginia's rampant (and unjustified) prison spending in the early Nineties created an entitlement program which is seriously impairing public education. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(10) VIRGINIA IS PAYING THE PRICE FOR PRISON BOOM (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Six years ago, an underdog ex-congressman named George Allen was elected governor of Virginia in a landslide after riding a campaign that portrayed the state in the grip of a violent crime wave. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Republicans and Democrats in the General Assembly obliged, passing sweeping laws that lengthened many criminal sentences, abolished parole and launched Virginia on a $400 million wave of prison construction. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Today Virginia -- a historically low-crime state -- has a criminal
justice system that stands out as one of the most punitive in the
United States and the world. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Cannabis & Hemp- | ||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (11-14) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
In one of the more memorable weeks on record, disclosures of newly
elucidated pharmacologic, therapeutic, and untoward effects of
cannabis appeared. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
McCzar's response: "It's all a crock, but we need more research!" | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(11) SPAIN: CANNABIS DESTROYS BRAIN TUMOURS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Chemicals in cannabis have destroyed brain tumours in laboratory rats,
a new study found. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Researchers at Complutense University in the Spanish capital, Madrid,
induced tumours in 45 rats. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
They treated a third with THC, the main active chemical in cannabis,
and a third with a synthetic cannabinoid while using a third as a
control group. The untreated rats died within 18 days while one third
of those which received THC and the man-made cannabinoid had their
tumours destroyed and the remaining third had their lives prolonged by
up to six weeks. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(12) UK: CANNABIS HOPE OF MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS RELIEF (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
CANNABIS may ameliorate the symptoms of multiple sclerosis, experiments
on mice have shown. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
There have been many anecdotal reports of benefits from MS sufferers
who have taken cannabis illegally but scientific evidence has been
lacking. Now a team led by David Baker of the Institute of Neurology in
London has shown that in a strain of mice which suffer a similar
disease, the active agents in cannabis reduce rigidity and trembling of
the muscles. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The team also found that synthetic chemicals mimicking | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(13) US: REPORT LINKS HEART ATTACKS TO MARIJUANA (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
In what is believed to be the first documented link between smoking
marijuana and heart attacks, a study has found that a middle-age
person's risk of heart attack rises nearly fivefold in the first hour
after smoking marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The study was presented yesterday by Dr. Murray A. Middleman at the
American Heart Association's annual conference on cardiovascular
disease in San Diego. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(14) DRUG CZAR CRITICIZES MEDICAL POT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
SIMI VALLEY, Calif. (AP) -- White House drug czar Barry McCaffrey spoke
harshly against the medical use of marijuana, calling much of it ``a
crock'' and saying more research is needed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (15) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
On the recreational front, Time confirmed what many have claimed for the past few years: British Columbian pot is the world's best. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(15) THE WORLD'S BEST POT NOW COMES FROM VANCOUVER (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
MARC EMERY expects to earn about $1 million this year selling seed for
high octane marijuana and books on how to grow it. Most of his
customers live in Vancouver, not far from his illegal mail-order
business, which is largely ignored by Canadian authorities. It's not a
place widely regarded as a hotbed of pot cultivation, but that's
changing fast, and Emery, 42, steps to his office window to demonstrate
why. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Known as "B.C. Bud," this pot is finding a lucrative market among U.S.
users of recreational drugs. A pound of dried B.C. Bud-whose active
ingredient, tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, accounts for up to 30% of its
weight-sells for about $8,000 in New York City. The more common
marijuana from Mexico, with a THC content of about 5% sells for as
little as $300 per lb. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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International News | ||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (16) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
This long NY Times piece provided background on the genesis of the world heroin glut and the ultimate futility of "interdiction." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(16) AFGHANISTAN: DISTRESS IN THE OPIUM BAZAAR: 'CAN'T MAKE A PROFIT' (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
HANI KHEL, Afghanistan - The merchants at the big opium bazaar here are
crying the blues, what with sales so low and prices down by half. Abdul
Wahab picked up a few chunks of his unrefined goods, which look like
dried-up cow pies. He put the opium on his scale and measured the
weight with lead balances. A year ago he was getting $140 per kilogram
(2.2 pounds); now he gets $62. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (17-19) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
News from the English-speaking world continues to suggest that
although their self-inflicted wounds from the ardent pursuit of
prohibition are less severe than ours, they do tend to be worse than
in nations that embrace harm reduction. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Ernie Drucker's piece should be read with the knowledge that the
battle between prohibitionists and harm reduction forces is even more
polarized in Australia than elsewhere. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(17) AUSTRALIA: OPED: JUST SAY NO TO AMERICA (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Australia Is Taking The Correct Approach To Tackling The Drug Problem,
Writes Ernest Drucker. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
AS AN an American public health professional who has worked for more
than 30 years in the treatment of drug addiction and, more recently, in
research on AIDS prevention (these days on sabbatical leave here in
Australia), I have followed the twists and turns of your national
debate on the establishment of safe injecting rooms and heroin trials
with more than casual interest. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
In my own country, command centre of the global "war on drugs", even
such a debate would be impossible and the actual implementation of such
programs still unthinkable. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(18) UK: DRUGS LOSE THEIR APPEAL FOR UNDER-16S (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
DRUG use among the under-16s appears to have peaked and would be
unlikely to worsen if cannabis were legalised, according to research
published today. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Surveys of more than 500,000 young people, dating back to 1987, show
drug use declining for the third successive year. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(19) B.C. IN DARK AGES TACKLING DRUG CRISIS | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Canada and the U.S. are in the Dark Ages in dealing with the drug
problem, says Diane Riley, deputy director of the International Harm
Reduction Association. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
And when it comes to drug addiction and overdose deaths, AIDS,
hepatitis C and drug-induced poverty, unemployment and social disorder,
Riley says it doesn't get much worse than B.C. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (20-21) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
As usual, the greatest folly can be found in American pursuit of drug
purity for our unfortunate neighbors to the South. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(20) MEXICO AND COLOMBIA WIN CERTIFICATION IN FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON, March 1 - The Clinton administration reported today that Mexico and Colombia are doing their share to stop the production and smuggling of illegal drugs, even though both countries are prominent drug exporters as well as centers of drug-related corruption. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Only Afghanistan and Myanmar, the former Burma, which produce most of the world's opium, were denied certification again this year. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(21) EDITORIAL: A MUDDLE IN THE JUNGLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
IT IS not Vietnam, nor will it become so. But once again the United
States is preparing to commit lots of cash, military hardware and
advisers to a battle in a foreign jungle. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Latin Americans pay a high price for the drugs trade: it corrupts their
societies from top to bottom. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
If this price is ever to be reduced, Americans will have to look not
just at the supply but also at the demand for drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
That means they will have to consider alternative policies at home,
even at decriminalisation. This is a war that will not be won with
helicopters. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Press Release Encourages Candidates/Media to Address Drug Policy | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The URLs below flesh out an important story; the failure of the media to force a discussion of drug policy among presidential candidates. The links provide a copy of the original press release, an open the letter to all presidential candidates (signed by many important groups,) and the ten questions developed by the NCEDP to be posed to our candidates. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Original Press Release | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Open Letter to Presidential Candidates | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Ten Questions for Our Presidential Candidates | ||||||||||||||||||||||
There was also a simultaneous DrugSense Focus Alert aimed and resolving
this problem: http://www.mapinc.org/alert/0155.html | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
"DRUG CRAZY" Now Available in Paperback | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"DRUG CRAZY: How We Got Into This Mess and How We Can Get Out," is now
out in paperback from Routledge, list price $14.95. Significant
discounts available to reform groups. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
To place an order, contact Routledge special sales representative
Joanne Rosenshein at 718-797-1968. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Any problems, call Mike Gray, 323-650-7212, or | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Retail orders can also be placed at Amazon | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Preventing Heroin Overdose: Pragmatic Approaches. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
On January 13 and 14, 2000 the University of Washington Alcohol and
Drug Abuse Institute and The Lindesmith Center held a conference in
Seattle, Washington entitled Preventing Heroin Overdose: Pragmatic
Approaches. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
This two day conference brought together leading experts from around
the world -- scholars, service providers, outreach workers and others
who deal with and are affected by heroin overdoses -- to present and
discuss a wide range of topics including heroin overdose risk factors,
naloxone distribution, the epidemiology of overdose deaths, outreach
and education, and international innovations in heroin overdose
prevention. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
You can now hear (with the proper hardware and software installed on
your computer) recordings of these sessions online. Please point
your browser to: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Jeanette Irwin | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"Boys, cigars are not smoking, in much the same way that marijuana
is not drugs and single-malts are not alcohol. There is a vital
difference between connoisseurs and addicts." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
-- E. Norfolk-Ingway, to his children. 1999. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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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. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
TO SUBSCRIBE, UNSUBSCRIBE, OR UPDATE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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We wish to thank all our contributors, editors, NewsHawks and letter
writing activists. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is
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interest in receiving the included information for research and
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