Dean would shift from punishing to rehabilitating drug users

[w4rma]

…
The Dean Plan

On specific issues, Dean said he would enforce the civil rights laws and seek to protect affirmative action. He said he would seek to give convicted ex-convicts the right to vote in federal elections, seek to rectify racial sentencing disparities for drug crimes and in death penalty cases and withhold federal funds from state and law enforcement agencies that engage in the practice of racial profiling.

Dean, who is a physician, also said it's misguided -- not to mention expensive -- public policy to fight drug addiction with prison sentences. He said he would begin to shift from punishing to rehabilitating drug users, while continuing to punish the ancillary violent crimes that accompany the drug trade. In essence, he said, reducing demand is the critical element that has been ignored in the drug war.
…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A24753-2003Sep30.html

[realFedUp]

1. amen.

Reading good clear thinking is like drinking cool
clean water.

[Nicholas_J]

2. Yet Dean also refused to allow methadone treatment

Opposed methdone clinics, but even worse, stopped the Vermont Department of Corrections from providing methadone treatment in Prison, and offered no alternative for those who were placed in jail, while they were addicted. Leaving them to sweat it out without medical assistance in jail.

Governor Nixes Methadone Plan for Vermont Prisons
Thursday, December 20, 2001

Vermont Governor Howard Dean has again proven himself to be a formidable obstacle to methadone maintenance therapy in Vermont. In May 2000, the state of Vermont finally joined 44 other states and passed a law allowing for methadone maintenance, despite the opposition from the Governor. Gov. Dean eventually reached a compromise with the Legislature by stipulating that methadone be distributed in a controlled environment and not for take-home use. Although a methadone clinic has yet to open in Vermont -- the first is scheduled to open in January 2002 in Burlington - the Vermont Department of Corrections recently announced plans to allow certain inmates to receive methadone in jail. This summer the Department of Corrections argued against methadone in court, but later agreed to allow methadone distribution in jails. Since the Department of Corrections’ approval of prison-based methadone maintenance therapy, Gov. Dean intervened and put a stop to the program, which would have been limited to inmates already on methadone.

http://www.drugpolicy.org/news/12_20_01vermont2.cfm

again, no excuse, just conservative behavior. And not ancient history, but not even two years ago.

[w4rma]

3. And yet Dean goes farther than either Kerry or Clark does. (n/t)

[blm]

5. Good for Dean....

I'm glad he finally is joining Kerry's longtime campaign to get voting rights back for ex-felons. This had been an issue for Kerry for over a decade.

[w4rma]

6. I agree with Kerry and Dean on ex-felon voting rights.

Kerry's a great guy. See I can say that. But, I wish you'd lighten up on Dean, blm. They're both great guys. :)

[Kanola]

12. BLM you are so againist Dean

that I think you would rather vote for Bush if Dean is the nominee. I know you love Kerry, but there is a chance he won't get the nomination. Can you possibly vote for Clark or Dean? If not, than the alternative is Bushco.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

13. I don't understand

why you are being so harsh with blm. He is giving Dean credit, but also pointing out that Kerry has been on top of this issue for a long time.

Considering we have the highest incarceration rate in the industrialized world (that's off the top of my head, correct me if I'm wrong), we are slowly but surely disenfranchising a growing percentage of our citizenry.

[Demobrat]

4. He must not believe that Methadone works.

He's a doctor. I'm sure he has his reasons.

[Wickerman]

7. Don't have an opinion on Dean per se

but I do question that any doctor would have users go cold turkey. Withdrawal can be fatal and a methodone step-down program is a safe and time tested method to at least keep people alive so they can fight the addiction.

I'm going to try to read more about this event, but I doubt that "He must not believe that Methadone works."

[TLM]

15. Dean's problem wasn;t with the treatment, but the programs

I think I recall reading something about his position beign against the way the methadone was being distributed.

[stickdog]

17. Whatever.

Methadone is about 90% as addictive as heroin.

[Wickerman]

22. Did you read my post?

I said that methadone was helpful as a step-down to keep people alive long enough to have a chance to fight the addiction.

Ya know, I got a 13 year old who when she can't successfully argue a point throws out a dismissive whatever. I expected better of people involved in honest debate on DU.

Methadone based withdrawal treatments are most effective in a controlled environment like a prison. Withdrawal from Heroin or Methadone can kill you, but controlled wthdrawal from Methodane in a supervised environment, over about a months time, can be quite safe and successful.

Incidentally, got a source for your 90% as addictive as heroin?

[stickdog]

16. The excuse. As a doctor, he doesn't think methadone is much

of an improvement on heroin.

Which it isn't.

Still, he should have offered alternative therapies, but that's really a nationwide AMA problem, wouldn't you agree?

[10digits]

8. Don't you get sick of the rhetoric?

dean is such a blowhard.

[stickdog]

18. 10digits thinks JFK was killed by aliens.

Just testing to see if your street goes both ways.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

9. Dean on drugs, Kerry on drugs

Howard Dean on Drugs


More federal funding for all aspects of Drug War.
Dean adopted the National Governors Association policy:

* To reduce the presence of illegal drugs, drug-related organized crime, and the adverse effects of drug and alcohol abuse in society requires a comprehensive strategy involving federal, state, and local governments. The Governors believe that one of the most severe public health threats is the recent rise in substance abuse among children. The Federal Role
The profits from illicit drug trafficking can be effectively used to help state efforts to dry up the demand for these drugs. The nation’s Governors urge the President and Congress to fully fund drug and alcohol abuse education, drug courts, treatment, prevention, and law enforcement efforts, including the initiative to combat and clean up methamphetamine production laboratories, at the state and local levels of government.
* Intensified Eradication and Interdiction
Federal funding for use of the National Guard in drug and border enforcement deserves continued support. The Governors urge the President and Congress to utilize the role of U.S. military forces in interdiction efforts.
* High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Program.
The HIDTA program provides additional federal funds to those areas to help federal, state, and local law enforcement organizations invest in infrastructure and joint initiatives to dismantle drug trafficking organizations. Governors support the HIDTA initiative and urge Congress to continue supporting the program.
* The Federal Role in Reducing International Drug Trafficking.
The nation’s Governors urge the Administration and Congress to significantly tighten procedures for certifying foreign countries for eligibility to receive U.S. aid based on their cooperation with U.S. surveillance, interdiction, and eradication efforts.
* Drug Legalization
The nation’s Governors believe illicit drug legalization is not a viable alternative, either as a philosophy or as a practical reality.

Source: NGA policy HR-13: Combating and Controlling Substance Abuse 00-NGA2 on Aug 15, 2000
http://www.issues2000.org/2004/Howard_Dean_Drugs.htm


John Kerry on Drugs

Voted NO on increasing penalties for drug offenses.
Vote to increase penalties on certain drug-related crimes. The amendment would specifically target the manufacturing or trafficking of amphetamines & methamphetamines and possession of powder cocaine, and set stronger penalties for dealing drugs
Bill S.625 ; vote number 1999-360 on Nov 10, 1999

Voted NO on spending international development funds on drug control.
Vote to add an additional $53 million (raising the total to $213 million) to international narcotics control funding, and pay for it by taking $25 million from international operations funding and $28 million from development assistance.
Bill HR 3540 ; vote number 1996-244 on Jul 25, 1996
http://www.issues2000.org/2004/John_Kerry_Drugs.htm

[JohnKleeb]

10. Well thats good

and I dont mean to bring my candiate in to the mix but he did get a great grade which is an A on drug reform from this orgnaization. I dont have the link.

[chascarrillo]

11. I agree. Rush has had a hard enough week as it is... (nt)

:)

[0rganism]

19. Think he'd campaign for Dean now?

"You know, if you're like me, and have a serious drug problem, you want a candidate who understands you. Well, my friends, the Doctor is IN!"

[frank frankly]

14. great to hear

go Doctor

[Mairead]

20. Trying to 'reduce demand' has been the major focus of the drugs war!

The prison industry LOVES 'reduce demand'--that's how they get millions of drug users put in prison.

I'd like to think he was misquoted, because the only non-vicious course is to try to reduce harm, not reduce demand.

[OldSoldier]

21. I can think of a drug user I wouldn't mind seeing punished...

Poetic justice: Pigboy rails against drug abuse, gets 10-to-20 for the same thing.

They say prison sentences for drug users are counterproductive, but in this case it gets the fat lying bastard off the radio, and that's very productive.