Originally Posted by ltppowell
Originally Posted by antlers
Adult alcohol and drug abuse is a lot more of a public health problem than it is a law enforcement matter. Clearly.
No, they're problems for the public in general. They murder the public, they run over the public they steal from the public, etc. Not a cop alive doesn't wish that the "public health" guy would handle any of that. The problem is that the "public health" guy is a myth, except on paper.
Public health problems involve the public in general. The ‘War on Drugs’ is at the root of a staggering array of problems in today’s society, and ALL of em’ involve the public in general. That’s a fact. And another thing’s for certain, the approach that’s been taken by law enforcement and the criminal justice system over the last 50 years in waging the ‘War on Drugs’ has been a dismal failure. Well over a trillion taxpayers dollars have been spent on it so far, and drugs are more readily available now than they’ve ever been, and drugs are more potent now than they’ve ever been, and drugs are cheaper now (in relation) than they’ve ever been. Acknowledging these truths in no way promotes the use of drugs.

Every day on this side of the ground is a win.