Sunday, December 14, 2003

Police up Goose Creek without a paddle... (Background here in case you somehow missed it). The only good thing to come out of the police raid at Stratford High School is the fact that it has actually received a good deal of national attention and outrage. It's important that we keep a fire under the issue (so it doesn't plame out), so you'll continue to hear updates on this site. First, a strong editorial from the Rock Hill, S.C. Herald: We hope state Attorney General Henry McMaster will give due attention to the case of the drug sweep at Stratford High School in Goose Creek. A reprimand from McMaster might help prevent such highly questionable police behavior from occurring at other schools in the state... This incident has provoked outrage nationwide, and for good reason. Police conduct clearly was over the top, and officers are fortunate no students were shot or otherwise injured. In this case, the biggest threat to law and order was the police themselves. We hope McMaster will waste no time in reviewing this case. Next, some national attention: The Rev. Jesse Jackson said Thursday he wants U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft to intervene and call for the prosecution of police involved in the Nov. 5 drug search at Stratford High School in Goose Creek and the fatal shooting two days later of a mentally ill black man in North Charleston. In a separate move in the drug-raid case, the state chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union plans to file a lawsuit Monday on behalf of 20 students. It claims Goose Creek officers used excessive force, falsely imprisoned students and violated search and seizure laws, said Executive Director Denyse Williams. "We just want to make sure this never happens to any child in any school again," she said.... "We want to meet with Ashcroft on this matter," Jackson said. "The Department of Justice must assure people their basic rights will be protected."... I think it's unconscionable, bigoted and reprehensible to have unholstered guns and dogs in the presence of children..." said the Rev. Joseph Darby of Morris Brown AME Church in Charleston. "I would hope (Jackson's) visit is followed up by positive action by local leadership." Parent Sharon Smalls said she hopes Jackson's presence will unite residents. "I think the community thinks this is a black-and-white issue, and it's not," said Smalls, who said officers slammed her son to the ground. "It's a right-and-wrong issue." I'd pay money to be in the room when Jesse Jackson asks John Ashcroft to investigate drug war abuses. Finally, check out Marsha Rosenbaum's article Stop Pointing Guns at Our Kids last week at Alternet: Today's parents, like those in Goose Creek, are skeptical of policies that demonize and frighten their teenagers without ensuring their health, well-being, and safety. If total abstinence isn't a realistic alternative, we want our teens to be educated about drugs by giving them scientific, honest information, not exaggerated claims designed (unsuccessfully) to scare them. We want school policies that protect students without jeopardizing the future of those who make immature mistakes. We want counseling and support, rather than humiliation, suspension, expulsion, or, as in the case of Stratford High, violence. Our children's safety should be top priority when it comes to educating them about drugs. Pointing guns at their heads is not the answer. Update:The ACLU has an 8 minute video of the event, narrated by the principal, available here (RealAudio file), today's press release is here, and the text of their complaint filing is here. 10:17:11 PM |  drug policy | Links | permalink | comment []

Pain Public Policy You may remember my September post on Severe Pain Care as a victim of the Drug War. Some positive steps are happening now. 1. Act quickly. This is very short notice, but I just got the information this evening. The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons is hosting an important Hill briefing on Tuesday, and they need your help in encouraging your Congressmen to attend. So give your rep a call on Monday morning if you can. Call the D.C. offices. The main switchboard is 202.224.3121. They will patch you through to your members. It sounds like a great briefing, including 5 groups taking part in the Coalition Against Prosecutorial Abuse (CAPA): The Politics of Pain Management: Public Policy and Patient Access to Effective Pain Treatments, featuring Ronald T. Libby, PhD., Professor,University of North Florida: "DEA investigation initiatives and funding sources" Rev. Ronald Myers, Sr., M.D., Founder, President, American Pain Institute: "Effects on African-American community" James Martin, President, 60 Plus Association, "Seniors' and end-of-life concerns" Julie Stewart, Families against Mandatory Minimums William Hurwitz, M.D., J.D., Indicted pain management specialist-McLean, VA: "'Deserving' vs. 'undeserving' patients?" Jane M. Orient, M.D., Clinical lecturer,University of AZ, Executive Director, AAPS: "Opioid-phobia and reluctance to treat patients" Siobhan Reynolds, Founder & President, Pain Relief Network, "Impact on families and economic issues" DEA Diversion Program (Invited) Moderator: Kathryn Serkes, President, Square One Media Network More than 48 million people in the U.S. suffer from chronic pain, according to the National Institutes of Health. Recent high-profile news cases of opioid usage have placed the issue on the front pages, including a debate over dependency vs. addiction, who is "deserving" and who is "undeserving," of opioid treatment, and whether pain patients should be subjected to different standards of personal scrutiny than others. The DEA claims drug diversion has reached crisis proportions, justifying increased investigative initiatives that frequently circumvent the Congressional appropriations process. Physicians are prosecuted and imprisoned, and patients sentenced based on pill counts. Medical research and treatment has made tremendous advances in pain management, but is public policy keeping up? And is law enforcement discouraging patient access to treatment as a result of prosecution of physicians under the Controlled Substances Act? This distinguished panel will examine the current state of pain management, law enforcement initiatives, patient experiences, economic impact of untreated pain, funding sources, sentencing guidelines, H.R. 3015 prescription drug database act, and solutions for cooperation between lawmakers, regulators, law enforcement and the medical community.   Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2003, B-338 Rayburn House Office Building, 12 Noon-1:30 pm, (luncheon served) To register, visit www.aapsonline.org, email Jeremy Snavely at briefing@aapsonline.org, fax 520.325.4230, or call 800.635.1196 by 12:00 noon, Monday, Dec 15. 2. Start planning now for Pain Relief Network's March on Washington, April 18-20, 2004 8:35:27 PM |  drug policy | Links | permalink | comment []