Madam, - The recent spate of drug-related crimes, including murders, illustrates a chronic problem facing society. Drug-users often turn to violent crime to fund their addiction.
In response to this the State spends a considerable amount of public money trying to reduce the supply of drugs on the streets. But does this policy discourage the use of illegal drugs and the violent crime associated with it?
While the aim is laudable, the effect is the opposite. Seizing illegal drugs and arresting suppliers simply reduces the supply of drugs while the demand for drugs does not change. The price of drugs then rises when the quantity available on the street falls.
The higher price does not diminish a drug user's demand for drugs. Drugs simply become more expensive and users need to get their hands on more cash. This leads to more drug-related crime. In addition, drug suppliers become wealthier.
Government policy aimed at reducing the supply of drug use is therefore not the answer. It would be much more effective if public policy put all its resources into education programmes. This would reduce demand, price and quantity and, of course, drug-related crime. Furthermore, the incomes of the drug barons would decline significantly. - Yours, etc,
THOMAS POWER, Dublin Institute of Technology, Bolton Street, Dublin 1.