Pubdate: Wed, 29 Dec 2010
Source: Sydney Morning Herald (Australia)
Copyright: 2010 The Sydney Morning Herald
Contact:  http://www.smh.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/441
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v11/n003/a06.html
Author: Philip Comans

CRIMINALS THE WINNERS IN WAR AGAINST DRUGS

Your editorial hits the nail on the head ("What's your poison?",
December 28). A person I know was arrested entering a dance party just
before Christmas for possessing an ecstasy tablet. He now faces a
possible criminal conviction. His friend, spotting the sniffer dogs,
swallowed a second pill rather than be caught, thus doubling his
planned consumption as he had already taken one before arriving.

My friend spent a couple of unpleasant hours being processed, while
his mate slumped at the party dangerously close to an overdose. Both
returned to the party (one from twilight land, the other from the
police station) and stayed all night. Please tell me, how is this
helping win the war on drugs? Police activity such as this is all
about public relations and demonstrating zero tolerance. Thousands of
people will continue to take ecstasy at nightclubs and dance parties
around Sydney every weekend. The war on drugs is lost. Prohibition
doesn't work and has unintended and sometimes deadly
consequences.

Philip Comans

Coalcliff 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake