Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697641652663.pdf (Australia)
Senate Standing Committees on Economics PO Box 6100 Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 Email: economics.sen@aph.gov.au Dear Senators Re: Personal choice and community impacts I would like to make a submission to the ‘Personal choice and community impacts’ Senate Inquiry specifically relating to “The War on Drugs” (term f).

Prohibition does not work.

This has been proven many times.


Alcohol consumption increased during the years of prohibition in America why is it still assumed that prohibiting a substance is the answer?
As you are aware, religious revivalist and teetotaller groups of early 19th century America had been fighting for years to ban alcohol in the hope the ban would decrease crime and help the economy, this continued into the 1900’s where well- funded groups like the Anti-Saloon League and the Women’s Christian Temperance Union gained the support of the government.
These groups would use biased data and scare tactics to convince the Government to create the 18th amendment; a ban on manufacture, sale and transportation of intoxicating liquors.

As with the current prohibition on drugs, task forces were established in order to enforce the prohibition, and as with the current prohibition the ban of the 1920’s was largely ignored, law abiding citizens became criminals for nothing more than buying a beer.
During this time organised crime became well established and Americans were spending vast amounts of money on illegal liquor.

< http://www.history.com/news/10-things-you-should-know-about-prohibition> We see similar issues with the racially driven bans on alcohol in remote communities.

The bans exist, but people still get drunk.< http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-12-18/watt-booze-bans-the-principle-and-practice/4433434> Prohibition does not work.
Maximum security prisons still have drugs, why would you ever be able to stop drugs in free society.

A war on drugs is a war on people.

The Australian Government’s commitment to continue to fuel the ‘war’ on drugs only causes additional harm to those people who are already effected by drugs, be it through addiction, violence or those in low economic countries who farm plants for the drug trade.
< http://www.drugpolicy.org/blog/murders-dont-stop-war-drugs- responsible-outrageous-death-toll-mexico> An addiction is not a criminal offence.

Many people in our society are addicted to some type of substance, probably the most widely accepted drugs are alcohol and tobacco.

In recent years there has been a lot of work done to decrease the use of these drugs, and has been steadily succeeding.

A war was not waged on alcoholics or smokers, rather help was provided if it was desired.
Help addicts by treating them and providing opportunities to talk about their addictions, don’t make them criminals.

The media and the Government are often found to dramatize the issues surrounding the use of drugs, campaigns often depict that death or serious injury will ensue if a person is to ‘take drugs’, these methods only dilute the message of anti- drug campaigns as when, for example, teenagers try drugs and don’t die in a horrible fire ball of death, they assume they were just being told lies.
The scare tactics don’t work.

< http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/columnists/new-approach-needed-in-australias-war-on-drugs/story-e6frg72x- 1227298312740> A more honest approach, explaining that drugs make you feel good, but have the potential to ruin your life might work better.

Personal choice and community impactsSubmission 235 - Supplementary Submission The “War on drugs” has been tried, it has failed.

We need to adopt another methodology.


We continue to waste police resources on issues that are more related to health than crime.

< http://www.theguardian.com/australia- news/2015/jun/19/queenslands-war-on-drugs-a-waste-of-police-time-says-ted-noffs-foundation> Portugal legalised drugs in 2001 and instead of jail time offenders are given the opportunity for therapy.

Since the decriminalisation of drugs there has been a decrease in drug usage.
< http://content.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1893946,00.html> Coronary heart disease was the most common cause of death in Australia in 2011-12 with around 20,000 deaths, < http://www.aihw.gov.au/australias-health/2014/ill-health/#t2> should we therefore make sugar illegal?

Or make daily gym sessions mandatory?

These ideas are obviously ridiculous; teaching people of the side effects and giving them help when needed is however the answer.

I ask that the Australian Government look at the facts.
Prohibition doesn’t work.

Thank you for the opportunity to voice my opinion.

Regards, Mark Clotworthy Cairns, Queensland Personal choice and community impactsSubmission 235 - Supplementary Submission