Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2000
Subject: Arizona Republic Catalogs Failures Of Drug War
DrugSense FOCUS Alert #156 January 24, 2000
Arizona Republic Catalogs Failures Of Drug War
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Make Writing At Least One Letter a Week Your Commitment to
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DrugSense FOCUS Alert # 156 January 24, 2000
The Arizona Republic featured more than a dozen articles on the drug
war last week. The series started off with an unavoidable premise: The
drug war has failed.
In the introduction to the series, reporters get to the heart of the
matter. “The truth is inescapable: The fight against narcotics, which
costs Americans nearly $18 billion a year, is the nation’s most failed
police action since Vietnam.” Throughout the week, the series
demonstrated how astonishing profits help the drug war to corrupt
society at many levels. Links to all the articles are available below.
Unfortunately, the series stopped short of supporting a real solution
to the problems, and advocates of serious reform were offered very
little space to air their views. Instead, the wishy-washy implication
of the series conclusion is that more access to treatment and the use
of drug courts will help solve the problem. While that may be better
than no changes at all, the series demonstrated repeatedly how black
market money is as big a lure as drugs themselves for some who get
tangled up in that world.
Please write a letter to the Arizona Republic thanking the paper for
reporting the failures of the drug war, but also to remind that more
than a little tweaking is needed. It’s time for a complete overhaul.
Thanks for your effort and support.
WRITE A LETTER TODAY
It’s not what others do it’s what YOU do
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CONTACT INFO
Source: Arizona Republic (AZ)
Contact: Opinions@pni.com
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ARTICLE
URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00.n103.a01.html
Newshawk: Jo-D and Tom-E
Pubdate: Sun, 16 Jan 2000
Source: Arizona Republic (AZ)
Copyright: 2000 The Arizona Republic
Contact: Opinions@pni.com
Address: 200 E. Van Buren St., Phoenix, AZ 85004
Website: http://www.azcentral.com/news/
Forum: http://www.azcentral.com/pni-bin/WebX?azc
THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC’S A LOSING DRUG WAR SERIES INDEX
About this series:
During a seven-month investigation, Arizona Republic reporters spoke
to dozens of drug officers, smugglers, counselors and residents on the
Mexican border. The conclusion: We’re losing the war on drugs.
Day 1: Sunday, 16 Jan 2000
Introduction: A Losing Drug War
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n061/a08.html
A Lost Cause?
Questions Trump Answers In War On Drugs http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n062/a04.html
More People, More Technology, More Danger http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n062/a03.html
Day 2: Monday, 17 Jan 2000
The Drug Pipeline
State Is Pipeline For Illegal Drugs http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n064/a07.html
Eyes From Above Help In Flight http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n099/a01.html
U.S. Customs Official Lives For The Thrill Of The Chase
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n068/a06.html
Day 3: Tuesday, 18 Jan 2000
Traffickers’ Tricks
A Contest Of Wits At US Border http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n071/a03.html
Smugglers Often Betray Themselves http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n099/a02.html
Day 4: Wednesday, 19 Jan 2000
Old-Time Methods
Old-Time Methods Have Place In Fight http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n095/a01.html
Narcs Lie In Wait, Watching The Night For ‘Contrabandistas’
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n095/a02.html
Drug War Lost, Tucson Attorney Says http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n101/a01.html
Day 5: Thursday, 20 Jan 2000
Two Go Bad
Chance Led To Side Job As Arizona Drug Runner http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n099/a04.html
Day 6: Friday, 21 Jan 2000
Phoenix Sting
One Phoenix Sting Paid Off For Cops http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n093/a01.html
Day 7: Saturday, 22 Jan 2000
Rehab
Aid Money Targets Certain Demographic Groups http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n098/a10.html
Everything’s Different http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n095/a08.html
Day 8: Sunday, 23 Jan 2000
Conclusion: Solutions
Putting Years Of Drug Use Behind, With Help http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n102/a02.html
Rebuilding Broken Families http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n101/a06.html
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SAMPLE LETTER (sent)
To the Editor of the Arizona Republic:
I applaud the Arizona Republic for exposing the failure of the war on
drugs in its week long series. It is well past time to acknowledge not
only that the drug war doesn’t work, but that it causes more problems
than it solves.
That being said, I was very disappointed when I reached the conclusion
of the series, which implied that more access to treatment and drug
courts are going to improve the situation. While I agree those who
think they need treatment should get it, there’s a lot more going on
here. To paraphrase a famous line about misconceptions: It’s the black
market economy, stupid.
Pardon my rudeness, but the clues are glaring for those willing to
see. One of the last stories, “Putting Years Of Drug Use Behind, With
Help,” seemed to suggest that drug courts saved a young drug dealer.
But the dealer himself clearly explained why demand reduction is not a
final solution. “I think I was more addicted to selling the drugs than
to taking them,” the young man confessed.
Many more people (including the governor of the state directly to your
east) are realizing that the drug war is beyond fixing, and that it’s
time for radical change. It’s a shame your series did not give them
more space to air their views. Putting another bandage on top of the
corrosive disease of the drug war will only allow its damage to fester
deeper in society.
Stephen Young
IMPORTANT: Always include your address and telephone
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at least somewhat so that the paper does not receive numerous copies of the
same letter and so that the original author receives credit for his/her work.
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Prepared by Stephen Young – http://home.att.net/~theyoungfamily Focus
Alert Specialist