COP on the Hill: Stories from the week of January 15, 2016

Stories from the week of January 15, 2016

New/Old Tactic : I spent most of the week hand-delivering the latest, approved edition of the Swiss HAT (heroin assisted treatment) program.**  America suffered some 44,000 deaths last year to drug overdose, almost all via heroin or Oxycodone. The information has nothing to do with my main task of drug prohibition. However, since no one on the Hill or the country is even thinking outside the box of more money for law enforcement, I decided to deliver a 3 minute mini presentation to all 535 Members’ offices.   This in between my normal presentations to staff.

Note: for stat purposes, I am counting 3 mini-presentations as one normal one. Personal note to self – don’t do this again…after 40 in one day, the mind goes to mush.

Captive audience: A Subway shop just opened in the Rayburn bldg and is very popular. When I got in line the first time, Lady Luck struck hard. Three Congressmen were right behind me, when VT state senator Jeanette White called me regarding coming to her state to testify on a legalize/regulate MJ bill. I made a point of saying why MJ should be treated like beer with all the Congressmen able to hear the words.

I also put my jacket over the chair and all who enter have to pass by it…all good passive advertising. For many reasons, I will be eating more Subway sandwiches.

This week’s stats :

114 personal chats with a Member of Congress..  03 this week

2079 Presentations to Congressional staffers..  68 this week

157 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc.     03 this week

1 meeting this week

  COP stats since inception: August 2009

92 interviews and reports in minor media = blogs, cable TV, weekly papers, etc..   0 this week.

23 major conferences attended –  (United Nations drug conf, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review,  etc)  this week

60 Radio Interviews..  0 this week

82 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $80,000).. 0 this week

39 published interviews in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 00 this week

38 Appearances on major TV networks..this week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC)…0 this week (BBC)

*   2 editorials in daily papers mentioning Howard’s efforts & in support of COP position

Weekly attendance at Grover Norquist’s Wednesday brunch attended by 150 conservative leaders.   Named the “Grand Central Station of the Conservative Movement.”

*      Consider being a member of COP at $30.00 or more per year.   All contributions are tax-deductible.  30 dollars buys all the copy paper COP uses in one year.   Law Enforcement’s voice in opposition to current policy is vital on the Hill to achieve a repeal of federal prohibition.  COP provides that voice.  www.citizensopposingprohibition.org

**

SWISS HEROIN-ASSISTED TREATMENT 1994 – 2016: SUMMARY

This summary was taken from six published reports and updated every year. The Swiss Federal Office of Public Health reviewed and approved its release. Additional questions should be directed to Catherine Ritter in Bern –  (41) 58-469-18-13– Email  Catherine.Ritter@bag.admin.ch   – NOTE:  This summary was researched and written by Howard J. Wooldridge, a  Co-Founder of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition…LEAP

Overview:  Due to the severe drug problem in Switzerland in the early 1990s,(rising number of injection drug users, visibility of open drug scenes, AIDS epidemic, rising number of drug related deaths, poor physical health, high criminality) the Swiss made a fundamental shift in approaching the problems caused by heroin addiction.  The Swiss offer treatment-on-demand.  A variety of different treatments is available, in order to treat a broad range of dependent people.  Of an estimated 22-24,000 addicts (dropping 4% per year) 17,500 are in treatment. 92% are given daily doses of primarily methadone at conventional clinics or by general practitioners (the majority).  The Swiss treat about 1400 addicts with maintenance doses of heroin via 23 special clinics operating in cities and two prisons. Opioid based treatments are part of a broader therapy that includes social, educational and psychological measures. The Swiss approach has resulted in lower rates of crime, death, disease, a slight drop in expected new users as well as an improvement in mental and physical health, employment and housing.  Similar programs have been developed in seven countries: Germany, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, England, Spain and Canada.

* To qualify for a heroin prescription: 1) at least 18 years old; 2) been addicted (daily use) for at least two years; 3) present signs of poor health; 4) two or more failed attempts of conventional treatment (methadone or other); 5) Surrender drivers license; 6) Heroin can only be obtained at the clinic and must be consumed on site (oral or injection).  (Note: Under strict control and specific criteria [for example full employment] a few are allowed to take away one oral dose daily)

1. Patients can receive up to three doses of heroin per day.  66% take the heroin via needle injection, the rest via pill or liquid heroin mixed with juice.
   B.    Patients average about three (3) years in this plan.  However, they may stay in treatment indefinitely.   20% of original patients are still in the program.
   C.    The vast majority of patients are satisfied or very satisfied with the program.
   D.    Average age of patient: 42 years.

   *Crime Issues:  60% drop in felony crimes by patients (80% drop after one year in the program).  82% drop in patients selling heroin.
   *Death Rates:  No participant has died from a heroin overdose since the inception of the program

*Disease Rates: New infections of Hepatitis and HIV have been reduced for patients.
*New Use Rates: Slightly lower than expected. 1)   As reported in the Lancet June 3, 2006, the medicalisation of using heroin has tarnished the image of heroin and made it less attractive to young people. 2)  Most new users are introduced to heroin by members of their social group and 50% of users also deal to support their habit.  Therefore, with so many users/sellers in treatment, non-users have fewer opportunities to be exposed to heroin, especially in the rural areas.

*Cost Issues:  48 dollars/day:  Patient costs are covered by national health insurance agency.  Patients pay annually 700 dollars for the compulsory insurance.  Note: The Swiss save about 38 dollars per day per patient mostly in lowered costs for court and police time, due to less crime committed by the patients.
*The Swiss purchase about 60 kilos of heroin for treatments ($130,000, black market price: 3.7 million).
*In December 2008 the Swiss voted (68%-32%) to make the program part of their body of laws. HAT is controlled by federal health authorities.      * The Swiss approach gives us a glimpse of a context in which drug issues are handled by the medical community.

Reader:  What the Swiss Program is not:

1.    It has not eliminated street sales of heroin.  Dealers still exist in cities with clinics.
2.    It is not a ‘free’ drugs program.  Patients must purchase health care insurance and receive their methadone or heroin as part of their comprehensive drug treatment therapy.
3.    A non-heroin using adult cannot walk into a clinic and receive heroin.
4.    Simply put, the Swiss are using a comprehensive public health approach (treatment on demand) to heroin addiction whose unique feature is to allow a small minority of patients to receive pure, maintenance doses of heroin.
5.    Heroin is not a legal, regulated and or taxed product in Switzerland.
6.    The Swiss have never calculated how many fewer people have taken heroin during the life of the program because of the HAT (heroin assisted treatment) program.  They have calculated there was an annual drop of users of about 1% between 1992 and 2002.  The Swiss attribute any progress to their Four Pillar’s Approach, not any isolated component.