MAKE HEALTH THE FOUNDATION FOR ANTI-DRUGS POLICIES

Re: The never-ending terrible human toll of the war on drugs,
Editorial, March 13 From 1987 to 1997, I was the principal
investigator of a large-scale, two-site, collaborative research
project involving the treatment of 150 adult male alcohol and drug addicts.

Our study revealed conclusively that, at intake into our
investigation, these men suffered emotional and psychological
distress equal to that experienced by patients in psychiatric
hospitals as measured by standard psychological instruments. In
addition, they had serious interpersonal problems in their marriage,
with their children, at their workplace and with their social networks.

After treatment and at follow-up, these individuals demonstrated
considerable improvement in all the indices of health and well-being.

The editorial's conclusion that there is a better way to the drug
problem than "outright war"was fully supported by our research
findings. We need to stress personal and emotional "health as the
basis for our international drugs policy."

John Friesen

Professor emeritus

University of B.C.