> In contrast to U.S. policy, European countries focus on harm reduction,
> and it works.
> By Rick Steves
>
> October 12, 2007
>
> Europe has a drug problem, and knows it. But the Europeans' approach to
> it is quite different from the American "war on drugs." I spend 120 days
> a year in Europe as a travel writer, so I decided to see for myself how
> it's working. I talked with locals, researched European drug policies
> and even visited a smoky marijuana "coffee shop" in Amsterdam. I got a
> close look at the alternative to a war on drugs.
>
> Europeans are well aware of the U.S. track record against illegal drug
> use. Since President Nixon first declared the war on drugs in 1971, our
> country has locked up millions of its citizens and spent hundreds of
> billions of dollars (many claim that if incarceration costs are figured
> in, a trillion dollars) waging this "war." Despite these efforts, U.S.
> government figures show the overall rate of illicit drug use has ...

> In contrast to U.S. policy, European countries focus on harm reduction,
> and it works.

>
> In Montreal we have needle programs where addicts can pick up free
> needles from 3 or 4 outlets around the city and we also have methadone
> programs. Addicts in prison and jail can also get free needles.
>
> The down side of free needles is that they get tossed in back lanes
> and playgrounds which addicts frequent at night. The result is that
> the playgrounds in and around Montrealare deserted during the day as
> parents are worried their children will get stuck by needles.
>

> On Oct 16, 1:45 pm, "F.H." verizon.net> wrote:

>> In contrast to U.S. policy, European countries focus on harm reduction,
>> and it works.

> Canada has had some experiences with this type of approach.
>
> I visited a residential home for alcoholics on Ottawa where 16 street
> alkies reside and they can start drinking at 10am and can consume one
> 10oz glass of wine per hour up to 10pm.
>
> The program saves various levels of Gov't some 60,000$ per year per
> drunk and occasionally one straightens out and joins AA.

> Maybe the addicts should have the same type program as the drunks.
> Or..., maybe supply the needles with some sort of packaging for disposal.

> On Oct 16, 4:16 pm, "F.H." verizon.net> wrote:

>> Maybe the addicts should have the same type program as the drunks.
>> Or..., maybe supply the needles with some sort of packaging for disposal.

>
> Drug addiction, especially heroin is a lifestyle and expecting people
> to stay put in a house is a stretch. Also, expecting addicts to cap
> needles have getting their brain fried is a big stretch.

> In contrast to U.S. policy, European countries focus on harm
> reduction, and it works.
> By Rick Steves
>
> October 12, 2007
>
> Europe has a drug problem, and knows it. But the Europeans' approach
> to it is quite different from the American "war on drugs." I spend
> 120 days a year in Europe as a travel writer, so I decided to see for
> myself how it's working. I talked with locals, researched European
> drug policies and even visited a smoky marijuana "coffee shop" in
> Amsterdam. I got a close look at the alternative to a war on drugs.
> European leaders understand that a society has a choice: tolerate
> alternative lifestyles or build more prisons. They've made their
> choice. We're still building more prisons.
>
> Rick Steves (ricksteves.com) writes European travel guidebooks...

> In contrast to U.S. policy, European countries focus on harm reduction,
> and it works.
> By Rick Steves
>
> October 12, 2007
>
> Europe has a drug problem, and knows it. But the Europeans' approach to it
> is quite different from the American "war on drugs." I spend 120 days a
> year in Europe as a travel writer, so I decided to see for myself how it's
> working. I talked with locals, researched European drug policies and even
> visited a smoky marijuana "coffee shop" in Amsterdam. I got a close look
> at the alternative to a war on drugs.
>
> Europeans are well aware of the U.S. track record against illegal drug
> use. Since President Nixon first declared the war on drugs in 1971, our
> country has locked up millions of its citizens and spent hundreds of
> billions of dollars (many claim that if incarceration costs are figured
> in, a trillion dollars) waging this "war." Despite these efforts, U.S. ...