Research Suggests Drug Laws Helping to Spread Disease
In this constant battle to try and fight the war against the growing drug problem, one research effort suggests that government drug policies are actually driving the spread of disease. The more startling find is that the disease is HIV-AIDS.
According to a report in the Winnipeg Free Press, the research was conducted by two Vancouver-based groups who argue that there is a significant disconnect between scientific evidence and policy.
Both research groups have demonstrated support for the Vienna Declaration, which is the official document of the International AIDS Conference. This document is laying blame on governments for ignoring research that demonstrates harm-reduction programs are helping to reverse the spread of HIV.
These programs include safe-injection sites and needle exchanges, which research suggests are much more effective at offsetting the negative aspects of the illegal drug trade, including the ongoing spread of diseases such as HIV.
The document also suggests that prosecuting those addicted to drugs only pushes their habits underground. In this environment, needles are shared, sex is generally unprotected and users are out of the reach of health-care workers or treatment for addiction.
It is also being argued that a focus on crime and punishment in drug addicts produces policy displacement. In other words, as more money and resources are poured into the war on drugs, there is less available to provide the help addicts actually need to overcome their addictions.
Canada, considered to be a conservative government, has recently been strengthening its drug laws as part of its agenda to be tough on crime. With this agenda comes harsher mandatory sentencing and attempts to close a safe injection site.
