This Is How You Fight the War on Drugs

Not with tanks and tasers and military tactics, but with treatment.

Laura Unger at the Courier:

Kentucky state leaders announced Monday that they will pour more than $32 million into drug treatment — a huge financial boost in a state plagued by one of the nation’s worst prescription drug abuse epidemics and a growing heroin problem.

The money comes from two settlements with pharmaceutical companies that marketed diabetes and osteoarthritis drugs that state officials said raised the risk of cardiovascular problems.



The funds will be used for a long list of drug treatment projects and programs, including a new treatment center in Ashland, 14 drug-free homes, a grant program for juvenile substance abusers in need of treatment, programs for pregnant addicts and others.


“At the end of the day, we must increase access to treatment if we’re going to stop the cycle of addiction,” said Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway, who called the treatment investment “historic.” “These settlement funds will expand treatment for youth and adults throughout the commonwealth.”

The next step is for the governor and general assembly to repeal the draconian prescription drug laws that have caused the heroin epidemic and left tens of thousands of Kentuckians in chronic pain without access to prescription pain relievers.

But the fastest, cheapest and most effective way to end Kentucky casualties from what LGM calls the War on (Some Classes of People Who Use Some) Drugs is to legalize marijuana.