A successful surrender to the war on drugs?
The following was published in the Southeast Missourian newspaper. It was written in reference to an article by John Cook at http://www.semissourian.com/story/1613629.html
John Cook is a well respected attorney in the Cape Girardeau community. However, I have some major disagreements with his op-ed piece last Thursday. He seems to be advocating a successful surrender to the war on drugs.
I agree that the war on drugs has been less than successful, but I strongly disagree that discontinuing these enforcement efforts would somehow be beneficial. Despite the fact the war has not been completely successful, there are many individual battles that have been won.
I have worked with drug and alcohol addicts for 30 years and have seen the devastation they, their parents, wives and children have experienced. I can assure Mr. Cook that any efforts to prevent the spread of this scourge are well worth it.
Through the years, a number of students who have come to Teen Challenge International of Mid-America have come to thank God for the policemen, judges and other officials who have sent them to jail because they realized that, were it not for their intervention, death would have been the result of their continued drug abuse. To cease fighting this blight on our society due to economic reasons or frustration would only exhibit a lack of conviction and courage as a nation.
Mr. Cook asserts, “We have no fewer drugs because of prohibition, just like we had no less alcohol during that period of prohibition.” Neither Mr. Cook nor anyone else can know this to be true, because this country has never been without a prohibition on drugs. The illegal status of drugs is a deterrent to some, possibly preventing additional millions from falling into that trap.
Link to http://www.semissourian.com/story/1614892.html to read the rest of the article.
Dr. Jack Smart is the executive director of Teen Challenge International of Mid-America in Cape Girardeau.
