 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2002 (XXXX 5) |
In March 2001, Yearly Meeting endorsed the Drug Concerns Working Group Minute calling for alternatives to the “war on drugs.” This is a war like the others, about which Quakers have vowed to "take away the occasion." It is marked by terrorism, disrupted economies and populations, curtailment of civil liberties, and the demonizing of enemies. This war especially victimizes people of color, and poor, less powerful persons.
Vast sums of money are being spent to eliminate the supply of drugs in programs like Philadelphia's "Operation Safe Streets," and the Colombian initiatives. Comparatively few dollars are being spent on treatment. Government policy neglects funds necessary for education and research into the causes of addiction.
The Drug Concerns Working Group recognizes that addiction is a form of attachment to experiences on a scale that ranges from less harmful (for example, work, sugar and caffeine) to very harmful (for example, heroin and violence). We work to raise awareness of the addictions among Quakers. To that end we are developing a counseling referral service for Friends.
We call upon Friends to be mindful of how our speech and behavior support the ills of current policy, and the misuse of drugs. We are working to understand and apply the approach of "harm reduction" being used in other countries and in select U.S. locations.
The Drug Concerns Working Group meets the second Saturday morning of every month at Friends Center in Philadelphia. Everyone is welcome. For more information, call Ray Bentman (rbentman@nimbus.temple.edu, 215-985-1314), Greg Barnes (barnesgreg@dca.net, 215-545-2081), or Kaki Sjogren (kakisj@aol.com, 215-423-4115).
Kaki Sjogren
Southampton Meeting (PA)
PYM Drug Concerns Working Group
Last modified: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at 08:18 AM