FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 2, 2010
CONTACT: Tom Angell - (202) 557-4979
Cops Say Cut Crime By Prescribing Heroin to Addicts
New Lancet Study Shows Prescription Heroin More Effective Than Methadone
WASHINGTON, DC -- A group of police, prosecutors and judges who are campaigning to end the "war on drugs" cheered the results of a new study in the prestigious medical journal The Lancet showing that in the UK, prescribing heroin to people addicted to opiates reduced their use of street heroin more than giving them methadone did. The police group, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), is pushing to bring such heroin prescription programs to the U.S.
"As a former cop, I know that bringing this program to America would not only cut down on illegal drug abuse, but it would also reduce the amount of money being pumped into the violent criminal organizations that currently supply 100 percent of the heroin being used in this country," said Neill Franklin, LEAP's executive director and a former Maryland State Police and Baltimore Police Department narcotics cop. "The science is in, and now it's time for the Obama administration to uphold its pledge to set drug policies based on facts and not ideology."
The Lancet study followed 127 people who previously failed to overcome their addictions, and who were given either injectable heroin or methadone. After six months, those receiving prescription heroin were much less likely to purchase it illegally on the streets than those who received methadone.
Recent votes in Germany and Switzerland have approved heroin prescription programs, but the Obama administration has not yet expressed support.
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) is an international organization representing police, prosecutors, judges, FBI/DEA agents, US marshals and others from around the world who want to legalize and regulate all drugs after fighting on the front lines of the "war on drugs" and learning firsthand that prohibition only serves to worsen addiction and violence. More info available at http://www.CopsSayLegalizeDrugs.com
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CONTACT: Tom Angell - (202) 557-4979
Cops Say Cut Crime By Prescribing Heroin to Addicts
New Lancet Study Shows Prescription Heroin More Effective Than Methadone
WASHINGTON, DC -- A group of police, prosecutors and judges who are campaigning to end the "war on drugs" cheered the results of a new study in the prestigious medical journal The Lancet showing that in the UK, prescribing heroin to people addicted to opiates reduced their use of street heroin more than giving them methadone did. The police group, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), is pushing to bring such heroin prescription programs to the U.S.
"As a former cop, I know that bringing this program to America would not only cut down on illegal drug abuse, but it would also reduce the amount of money being pumped into the violent criminal organizations that currently supply 100 percent of the heroin being used in this country," said Neill Franklin, LEAP's executive director and a former Maryland State Police and Baltimore Police Department narcotics cop. "The science is in, and now it's time for the Obama administration to uphold its pledge to set drug policies based on facts and not ideology."
The Lancet study followed 127 people who previously failed to overcome their addictions, and who were given either injectable heroin or methadone. After six months, those receiving prescription heroin were much less likely to purchase it illegally on the streets than those who received methadone.
Recent votes in Germany and Switzerland have approved heroin prescription programs, but the Obama administration has not yet expressed support.
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) is an international organization representing police, prosecutors, judges, FBI/DEA agents, US marshals and others from around the world who want to legalize and regulate all drugs after fighting on the front lines of the "war on drugs" and learning firsthand that prohibition only serves to worsen addiction and violence. More info available at http://www.CopsSayLegalizeDrugs.com
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The science is in, and now it's time for the Obama administration to uphold its pledge to set drug policies based on facts and not ideology.
ReplyDeleteGo Mr. Neill Franklin! It's been ages, but I will probably have to write another post over at Obama's website. Hm, a beer summit to discuss this? Now THAT'S ironic.
Seems to me I recently read about two other places. Many years ago Louisiana? Mississippi? had a heroin maintenance program, and it worked, but it was stomped out of existence.
I also read, or heard, a very short statement that Australia was going to test heroin maintenance, but then someone from our State Dept. showed up and threatened them, and Australia caved to the pressure.
Im from the UK and I am really hoping that our government has the courage to follow the advice of the Lancet's report.
ReplyDeleteBefore taking office, the main party in coalition, the Conservatives, were of the view that abstinence was best.
If they ignore the report it will be hard to conclude otherwise that they have done so for ideologically reasons only.
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ReplyDeleteAmazing how reports often times get ignored. Can't imagine this one will be treated any differently right now.
ReplyDeleteAs for the report, anyone who has followed the drug war for even a year or two could have, with great credibility, proven on their own the same conclusion. But we find ourselves in a system that tests the limits and insists on "more" and "newer" studies.
It's backwards and non productive along with the gasping of the next breath to keep it going. Soon they'll be out of oxygen.
The proof is here, now. Time to end this once and for all.