NATIONAL BOARD, NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR SAFER CITIES ON DRUG ABUSE AND CRIME

WHEREAS, officials estimate that there are now between 350,000 to 500,000 heroin addicts in the United States; and

WHEREAS, police, judges and correction officials in the major cities of the nation attribute from 50 percent to 80 percent of serious property crimes to drug abusers; and

WHEREAS, nine out of ten drug addicts in this country are without any medical, psychological or social help; and

WHEREAS, most experts view drug addiction as a social health problem which must be dealt with through public health-medical means; and

WHEREAS, the existing programs in correctional institutions have not been successful in dealing with drug abusers, and when addicts are arrested, prosecuted, convicted and sent to prison, they are seldom cured of their addiction, but when released, remain addicts, embittered, to prey further upon innocent people; and

WHEREAS, it is clear that there are not sufficient treatment programs to treat successfully all those persons addicted to heroin--not to speak of the additional growing problem of addiction to other drugs; and

WHEREAS, many governmental bodies and private employers refuse to hire ex-addicts, thus propelling them further into criminal pursuits; and

WHEREAS, many myths and inaccurate emotional appeals are made to the general public concerning drug abuse:

RESOLVED, that the National Alliance for Safer Cities call upon the federal, state and local governments to develop additional treatment programs for those addicts arrested and those voluntarily seeking help to enable them to receive the medical/public health treatment they need; and

RESOLVED, that the National Alliance for Safer Cities call upon governmental bodies and private employers, in cooperation with unions, to aid in hiring, training and counseling of ex-addicts on a nondiscriminatory basis; and

RESOLVED, that adequate federal and private funds be provided to insure that treatment programs for drug users reach all such ill individuals rather than a small minority; and

RESOLVED, that the regulatory agencies in federal government consider carefully the possible deleterious effects of the flood of advertising of chemical substances which tends to develop in Americans a "cult of chemical comfort" and lead to drug dependence throughout our entire society; and

RESOLVED, that the task of treating, assisting, and curing addicts be the joint responsibility of the medical and social welfare professions, and enlisting such assistance from self-help groups, volunteer agencies and concerned individuals, so as to meet the relevant personal and social dimensions of addiction problems; and

RESOLVED, that the National Alliance for Safer Cities carry on a program to present to its members and the public at large the credible facts about drug abuse rather than inaccurate emotional appeals, in order that drug education programs may be successful in preventing drug abuse by future generations. (Executive Council)