>From: "Peter McWilliams" >Subject: Baltimore, MD M.D. >Date: Thu, 6 Jan 2000 16:40:03 -0800 >X-Mozilla-Status: 8001 >X-Mozilla-Status2: 00000000 > > >The Spirit of Hypocrites lives on in this Baltimore MD M.D. > >"First, do no harm." > >Enjoy, > >Peter > >--------- > > >Pubdate: Sun, 19 Dec 1999 >Source: Baltimore Sun (MD) >Copyright: 1999 by The Baltimore Sun, a Times Mirror Newspaper. >Contact: letters@baltsun.com >Website: http://www.sunspot.net/ >Forum: http://www.sunspot.net/cgi-bin/ultbb/Ultimate.cgi?action=intro >Author: Dr. Nelson Goodman > >FOR CITY TO UNITE, DRUG USERS MUST BE RETURNED TO SOCIETY > >The Sun's Dec. 8 front page evoked mixed emotions, as Mayor Martin >O'Malley's prayer to "heal and unite" was coupled with news of escalation in >drug violence and failures of the state's juvenile justice system. > >How can a city unite when one person in 10 is by definition a criminal >because of his or her use of illicit drugs? > >Such people live outside the law and have no trust of the police, because >they fear arrest. They even fear that social and medical services may lead >to the detection of their crime and to incarceration. > >They seek justice through a harsh vigilante system that terrorizes the city. > >How can the mayor's prayer be answered unless the illicit drug users and >distributors are brought back within the normal channels of city life? > >And, how can this happen when some are unable to give up the drugs and the >drug commerce? > >Perhaps much of the money used to detect, arrest and incarcerate the drug >users must be spent on adequate treatment slots and prolonged therapy and >guidance. > >But what of those who are not ready to stop using heroin or cocaine? >Maintenance on those drugs under medical supervision, coupled with continued >social and psychological treatment, at least as a study project with clearly >delineated goals, may offer a solution. > >We must remember that the laws against such drugs were passed to protect us >from the harm drugs cause. > >But now is the time for courage in dealing with tragedy and chaos in >Baltimore. > >Heroin maintenance, if only for a limited period for those who are unable to >accept other therapy, might just bring the victims of drug abuse back into >society and put the drug dealers out of business. > >Dr. Nelson Goodman > >Shady Side > > >================================================================ > >This message is sent to you because you are subscribed to > the mailing list . >To unsubscribe, E-mail to: