‘Symbiosis of Drugs and Crime’

While Skolnick addresses the problems of drugs and crime, the suggestions he offers to meet that problem would have as much stopping effect as a butterfly net against a charging rhino. If we are to make any headway in this matter, it is essential that we recognize there are two distinct problems, one being drug addiction, the other drug-engendered crime.

Skolnick approaches the correct avenues to follow to help reduce dependency and discourage use of drugs. However, he does not go far enough in the means he espouses nor mentions the essential tool to achieve these ends; making it easy, even attractive, for the addict to seek help.

While little can be done about the individual who insists on abusing his body through drug use, there is much that can be done to eliminate most drug-related crime. No, the solution to that problem does not lie in improved police methods, more severe punishment or more jails.

Drugs are relatively inexpensive to grow or manufacture, and those who grow, manufacture and market drugs make tremendous profits. They are expensive for the user only because they are illicit. Thus most users must resort to stealing, robbing, pushing, prostitution, treason and murder to support their habit.

Most of this type of crime can be eliminated and millions of dollars now spent ineffectively can be saved by making drugs a government monopoly, available to registered users at nominal cost under controlled conditions. This would put the illegal growers, manufacturers and pushers out of business and, at the same time, enhance medical control over the user.

I am not suggesting this is a simple solution. Certainly, there are many problems to work out. Whatever such problems are, however, they are minor when compared to the present no-win situation.

In order for this suggested method to gain credence and study, we must first disabuse ourselves of the ridiculous notion that it would mean condoning the use of drugs. It is not condoning, but controlling.

JOE KOVACH

Pasadena