Sir, – You say in your editorial about cocaine (“The Other Public Health Crisis”, June 9th) that the crux of the challenge is stemming demand.
I was glad to read that, as it is a critical element in dealing with the crisis, but is consistently ignored or overlooked by experts and other commentators. You rather spoiled the point, however, by saying education is critical in stemming demand. It isn’t. Enforcement is critical in stemming demand – but enforcement with a difference.
It should be concentrated on well-off/privileged users – the better-off and more privileged the better. It is easy to imagine the reaction if a wealthy or “distinguished” member of society was brought before the courts for cocaine use. S/he would be described as an outstanding individual with a brilliant career ahead of him/her that would be ruined if s/he was prosecuted.
If even a small number of such prosecutions were brought to a conclusion demand for cocaine would drop like a stone. Permanently.
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– Yours, etc,
MICHAEL CLARKE,
Rathgar, Dublin 6.
