Alcohol toll badly underestimated, study says

Oh goody, just what we need, another study that tells us what we already know: Alcohol is the real drug problem.

OK OK it actually is an informative article. It just goes to show that drug policy reformers have to try to educate the public about drugs. I find this disturbing:

OTTAWA - Days after the federal government unveiled a budget that earmarked $64-million for a national anti-drug strategy, a new report says the social and economic costs associated with alcohol are twice as high as those racked up by illegal drug use.

The study says Canadians have an exaggerated view of the harm associated with illegal drugs, possibly fuelled by vivid media reports, and the emphasis given the subject by police organizations, political leaders and policy-makers.

The study, released yesterday by the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse, suggests anti-drug strategies should include alcohol as a significant part of the equation.

I blame the Reefer Madness Talking Points which are included in every account of a drug bust:

-An exaggeration of the value of the drugs seized. The value of marijuana is calculated as though the entire crop will be sold as dime bags. That means a pound of weed has to be worth $4400.

-An exaggeration of the amount of marijuana that your average pot plant produces.

-Hysteria about the "dangers" posed by grow-ops. If they are so dangerous, why are neighbours always shocked by grow-op busts? Where are all the grow-op fires caused by faulty firing?

-An insistence on covering grow-op busts. Busting a grow-op accomplishes less than nothing but its' good public relations for the police. They look like they are protecting the public during their cop photo ops but in reality all they are doing is propping up a corrupt justice system. Stop putting this garbage on the news.

I am always happy when the public has another opportunity to learn about the problems caused by the war on drugs. But I am concerned by the possible conclusions that could be drawn by these studies. The last thing we want is for drug warriors to come out in favour of prohibiting alcohol and tobacco.

This also pisses me off:

The study said 49% of murders, attempted murders and assault were attributable to drugs and/or alcohol. Five per cent were attributable to drugs only, 28% to alcohol only, and 16% were attributable to a combination of alcohol and illicit drugs.

Alcohol gets its' own special category because its' not a drug. Got that? Even though alcohol fits the definition of a drug, its' not a drug because you can buy it legally at the liquor store. Even an article that is attempting to educate the public about the drug war contains reefer madness.