This is shown clearly by a new Dutch study.
The Tages Anzeiger (Switz) (http://www.tages-anzeiger.ch) carried a very
positive review of the Netherlands drug policies today (8 Jan 99):
(Courtesy Mewshawk Harald Lerch and translator Pat Dolan)
...........
Only a few 'Tokers'
Amsterdam. - A newly published study from the Netherlands shows only half
as many hashish users as in the USA. 15.6% of those over age twelve had
tried marihuana compared with 32.9% in the USA. The 1997-98 study was
contracted by the health ministry and carried out by the University of
Amsterdam and the Central Bureau of Statistics.
The study revealed that 2.5% of the Dutch over 12 population had tried
marihuana as against 5.1% in the USA. The Dutch figures are less by more
than 50% of the numbers previously thought to be involved.
The study showed further that the repressive drug policies of the USA
cannot be said to bring about a reduction in consumption. The availability
of drugs cannot, therefore, be said to play a decisive role in increased
consumption.
American objections weakened
The study contradicts USA 'drug czar' Barry McCaffrey's pronouncements which
put a strain on USA-Netherlands relations recently. McCaffrey said last
summer that the Netherlands drug policies had led to an explosion in the
number of prisoners in Dutch gaols and a considerable increase in the
number of drug abusers. Against that, he said, the number of abusers in
the USA could be halved by the tough law enforcement approach.
The Netherlands have persisted with their drug policy despite friction with
neighboring EU counties who hold it to be too liberal. France adopted a
policy of blocking or delaying the dismantling of border controls of goods
and persons.
Actually, the main point of the Dutch policy is to protect its young people
by drawing a clear line of distinction between marihuana (a soft drug) and
heroin and cocaine (hard drugs). Young people who wish to experiment can do
so without being forced to hob-nob with criminal elements and run the risk
of being criminalised themselves. Both the USA and the Netherlands have the
same goal: to reduce consumption. The Netherlands has found a way to do
this with less harm to their young people and to society as a whole.
Copyright (c) TA-Media AG
..........
The following papers also carried positive reviews of either the Swiss
heroin trial or of the positive indications seen in the lowering of drug
fatalities by adopting 'harm reduction' policies.
Tagblatt
http://www.tagblatt.ch
Neue Zuercher Zeitung
http://www.nzz.ch
Neue Zuercher Zeitung
http://www.nzz.ch
