[WT논평] Drug abuse prevention is the calling of our time

By Robert Charles (former assistant secretary of state for international narcotics and law enforcement)

입력 2017-07-19 17:27:29, 수정 2017-07-19 21:17:34

The raging marijuana crisis reflects ignorance, indifference and cynicism. Legalizing and promoting drug abuse for tax money is immoral. It also makes no sense. It promotes physical and fiscal sickness. Revenue generated is swallowed by escalating medical, addiction, hospital, drugged driving, workplace, education, dropout, crime and social costs. The record is painfully clear ? from 1960s Sweden to recent experiments. Legalization unconscionably hurts families, friends and communities.

Those promoting drug legalization know facts ? but do not tell. They bypass truth for self-promotion. Aiming to raise revenue, win votes, style themselves progressive, they indulge themselves at the cost of innocents. Their silence is deafening. Today’s rise in drug deaths lies squarely at their feet ? and at the feet of anyone who would call a smoked narcotic medicine, or promote abuse by children.

Teens do not start with opiates ? they begin with other drugs, especially marijuana. One national prevention leader, who lost a child to an overdose, recently said: “Wake up, every parent who loses a child to heroin or opiates knows the first drug experience was marijuana.” What part of that do we not get? Promoting marijuana promotes addiction. Addiction promotes overdose.

Treatment for addiction is essential, but will not end America’s drug crisis. Without thoughtful upstream leadership in education and deterrence, prevention and mandatory drug testing, unremitting prosecution of drug traffickers, enforcement of federal law, and respect for law enforcement ? the crisis will deepen.

Drug abuse prevention is vital to promote healthy, productive, long lives. We need to learn facts, stop blindly promoting drug legalization and abuse.