Former Dutch health minister Els Borst also reported that McCaffrey refused to accept some of the facts on the results of Dutch drugs policy. The pilot program he speaks of is a study limited to 50 people. Ironically, the very day after McCaffrey made his claims, Dutch daily Het Parool reported the program in question is running short of qualified people. Instead of the 50 needed for the study, only 14 people have qualified so far - two months after the start of the program. It's not that others are in hiding.
Authorities here are willing to help.
It is not unusual to see Amsterdam policemen chat with a known user, reminding him to see his doctor. In America, where drug abuse is seen as a criminal rather than a health issue, there is no such understanding. The vast majority of Christians do not condone the use of narcotics - regardless of whether they're illegal, legal, or tolerated. Many of us who work with drug addicts know how destructive drugs are, and realize drug use often is rooted in, or leads to, deep-seated personal problems. Most Dutch Christians would also speak out against the seemingly limitless tolerance Holland is known for - with regard to this, and other issues.