HaCKeRz KrOnIcKLeZ 3/HaCKeRz_KrOnIcKLeZ.iso/drugs/unitarian

Internet Message Format | 1996-05-06 | 12KB

Date: Thu, 3 Nov 1994 07:37:53 -0800
From: Jim Rosenfield <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail], [e-mail]
Subject: Unitarian Church Stmt on Drugs

Subject: Unitarian Church Advocates Drug Policy Reform


TOWARD A SANE NATIONAL DRUG POLICY

A subcommittee report of the Denominational Affairs Committee
of the Northwest Unitarian Universalist Congregation
We have ascertained that:
1.      Attempts to deal with drug problems through elimination of
supplies have failed and are doomed to fail due to the multiplicity of
possible supply lines for a variety of existing and future drugs.
Current government spending is weighted 90% to supply reduction vs. only
10%  to demand reduction.  Much of the demand reduction efforts which do
exist focus on types of education which have virtually no impact on
those currently demanding drugs and questionable impact on those
considering use of drugs as an escape from serious problems in their
lives.
2.      Drug addiction is a social problem which is interlinked with
other social problems.  It will exist, to some extent, regardless of
government policies or any actions which society may take.  For many
drug users, dependence is a transitional phase of crisis in their
personal history that can be overcome by the process of maturing outof
drug dependence.  Drug policy should not impede this process but must
instead offer assistance and support. The total damage and costs to
individuals and society as a whole can, however, be significantly
reduced by more thoughtful policies and more effective use of resources.
 Such policies would refocus efforts toward assisting individuals in
dealing with addictions and toward other techniques proven to reduce the
demand for drugs.  The important thing is not that people abuse drugs,
it is that drugs abuse people.
3.      Current policies which attempt to combat drug addiction solely
by criminal law and compulsion to abstinence and which make the
motivation for abstinence a prerequisite for state aid have failed.
These activities are costly, in themselves, yet fail to address the many
social costs of substance abuse.  Among the social problems made worse
by current drug-related activities are:  the spread of HIV, crimes of
property and violence, the livability of public housing, our school
systems  ability to cope with ever greater demands, healthcare costs
(especially emergency room facilities), and a general atmosphere of fear
and hopelessness in many areas of our cities.  The cost to the public to
support one crack-addicted baby is estimated at $40,000; the lost human
potential is immeasurable.
4.      Some drug-related problems are made worse by current policies
toward users of selected drugs:  mandatory sentences of even minor drug
offenders result in prison overcrowding and the release of more violent
criminals, political and police corruption are financed with illegal
drug money, high costs of drugs result in economic crimes to support
addictions, uncontrolled dosage levels and impurities result in deaths
of users and higher healthcare costs, and finally, addicts are less
likely to ask for needed assistance if they fear incarceration.  Yet,
decriminalization may simply change the nature of the problems.  The
drugs causing the greatest harm to society today are alcohol and
nicotine.  Their costs in healthcare and lives far exceed the taxes
collected on these substances and far exceed the costs imposed by all
illegal drugs combined.
5.      Drug problems exist in rural, suburban and urban settings.  They
exist among all races, ethnic groups, and economic levels. Drug sales
activity, on the other hand, has a focused impact on the quality of life
in specific neighborhoods already plagued with other social problems.
Drug-related violence, youth recruitment and neighborhood terrorism are
focused in minority neighborhoods where people feel least empowered to
do anything about them.
We therefore draw the following conclusions:
1.      A dramatic shift in drug policies, resource priorities and
actions is necessary if we are to reduce the damage to our society and
affected individuals.  A shift must be made away from wasteful and
ineffective supply reduction efforts and toward effective demand
reduction.  Police activities should focus on working with the residents
of the most highly impacted neighborhoods to identify and reduce drug
related crime, terrorism, and youth recruitment.  Activities in and
around schools should also be a priority.  Users should be offered help,
those in jail offered treatment programs and those who are hard-core
dealers given humane but lengthy isolation from society.
2.      In order to reduce suffering, misery, and death, drug addicts
must be free from the threat of prosecution.  Offers of help must not be
linked to the target of total drug abstinence.  A legal basis must be
created in order to permit the establishment of a supervised setting in
which drugs may be consumed.  Help should not only be aimed at breaking
away from dependence, but must also permit a life of dignity with drugs.
3.      Recognition should be given to the varying degrees of
addictiveness and the varying degrees of impaired functioning from
different drugs.  Enforcement programs should focus on the activities
with the greatest negative impact on society.
4.      The distribution of sterile syringes to IV drug users should be
encouraged, as it has been shown in studies by Yale University to reduce
the spread of AIDS while having no impact on the level of IV drug use.
The use of methadone should be encouraged to assist in reduction of harm
to certain opiate users.
5.      Assisting addicts to regain control over their lives should be a
major thrust of drug policy.  Intervention, detoxification, treatment
and follow-up support are all necessary steps which, taken together,
have been shown to be an effective path to that goal.  Education should
help people who care about an addicted person learn what to do to help.
Addicts who choose to ask for help must be able to obtain properly
targeted assistance on demand, 24 hours a day.   Waiting lists  are an
oxymoron; if they could wait for help, they wouldn t need the help.
More research on the effectiveness of treatment modes and new
medications may also be helpful.
6.      We require better cooperation between various government
agencies, private sector leadership, the medical community, social
agencies, schools, community groups and churches.    All aspects of
society must pool their information, skills, and resources to address
these problems.  Get tough  political posturing should be exposed for
what it is and replaced with effective solutions targeted to truly
address the problems.
Be it resolved that the Unitarian Universalist denomination:
 1.     promote a forum for leaders from community groups, business,
churches, schools, media, the medical community, treatment
professionals, and the justice system to come together, share facts and
understandings and address these issues.  Each must learn from others so
as to build a consensus as to the best strategies for a particular
community.
2.      study the following strategies and develop a comprehensive drug
policy for the purpose of influencing drug and substance abuse
legislation and  public policy.

Strategies to consider:
Either as part of a coordinated community efforts or as separate
initiatives, specific strategies to be considered include:
1.      As individuals, we can become more knowledgeable, educate our
friends, get our organizations involved, support needed public policy
changes, get trained in effective intervention techniques, and help
people we know deal with problems and get desired assistance.
2.      Businesses can assist employees with drug problems by providing
Employee Assistance Programs (typical costs of $20/year/employee).  EAPs
provide counseling sessions and referrals.  Insurance programs should
cover appropriate and effective long-term anti-addiction programs rather
than funding only 28-day hospital stay programs which have been shown to
be costly and ineffective for many addicts.
3.      Schools can identify and council drug-impacted and at-risk
children. They can provide well-designed drug education curriculum.
They can assist in providing positive after-school activities and
otherwise make school facilities a community resource.  Drug-free school
zone laws (in place in many states) can be more effective with the
cooperation of PTAs and school administrators.
4.      Centralized intake with 24 hour access is critical to the
availability of treatment to those who want help getting off of drugs.
Such a central capability is essential to the effective matching of
individuals  needs with the right treatment program.  It must be as easy
to get treatment as to get drugs.  That centralized program must monitor
the effectiveness of the multitude of private and public sector
treatment programs and influence the allocation of funding to best
target limited financial resources.
5.      Community training and education should be made available both
at the layman s level and at the counseling professional s level.  This
is a role that churches, hospitals and treatment professionals can play.
 Initial intervention and effective early counseling help can aid an
addict in regaining control over their life.  What techniques work is
known and can be taught and put into practice.
6.      Community groups, churches, and the media can help educate the
general public on drug issues and facts.  This can lead to public
opinion favoring more intelligent drug policies,  broader support for
effective strategies, and eventual pressure on the political system for
more effective policies and priorities.
7.      Laws which currently confiscat the proceeds from the illegal
trade of drugs should be changed to allow funding of treatment,
educational, and other demand reduction efforts .  This is a key element
in shifting the ratio of public funding away from purely supply-side
efforts.  Better coordination of law enforcement agencies could
significantly increase the levels of confiscated funds available for
positive purposes.  Further sources of funds could include taxes on
alcohol and other to pay the costs to society of effective treatment
programs.  Alcohol and nicotine are the introductory drugs for most
users who become addicts.
8.      Costly prison space should be reserved for individuals posing
the greatest danger to society.  Drug use levels in many prisons exceed
the use levels of the prisoners prior to their incarceration.  Treatment
programs should be readily available to all inmates.  Such programs will
quickly pay for themselves.  A program of helping, not vengeance should
be encouraged, if only for practical economic reasons.
9.      Police and building inspectors can work in concert with
community groups to identify and demolish uninhabitable structures being
used as drug sales centers.  These have typically been abandoned by
their owners and are legally the property of a bank.  The bank can take
a tax deduction for donating the cleared land to a Community Development
Corporation. CDCs can obtain government funding to build low-cost
housing but cannot get such funding for the land acquisition.  Thus, the
conditions in the neighborhood can be improved, housing can be provided,
and an atmosphere of cooperation and neighborhood empowerment created.
Creative cooperative strategies such as this can make a powerful impact.
10.     Users of illegal drugs should not be punished for the purchase,
possession and consumption of small quantities for their own personal
use.  Trade should be legally regulated.  Proceeds from this trade
should be used to support the evaluation of a wide range of methadone
distribution programs, needle exchange programs as well as full service
programs offering help to recovering users and the most down and out
addict on the street.