Jim Ramstad: “in today's St. Paul Pioneer Press this headline caught my attention this morning. It reads, ``Drug-Related Deaths Set…”

“in today's St. Paul Pioneer Press this headline caught my attention this morning. It reads, ``Drug-Related Deaths Set Record.'' The story goes on to say that ``drug-related deaths in the United States have reached a record level, while illegal drug users can buy cocaine and heroin at some of the lowest prices in two decades, according to a White House report.'' It further states that ``some 15,973 people in this country died from drug-induced causes in 1997, an increase of 1,130 people over the previous year.'' The story further states that ``only four of every 10 addicts in the United States who needed treatment received it,'' according to the report. Then it concludes by stating that ``the figures surely are distressing news for the Clinton Administration, which is spending record amounts of money to fight the war on drugs.'' Mr. Speaker, why do we have a record number of deaths from illegal drugs? Because we are spending the money in the wrong places. Now the administration is calling for the expenditure of another $1.7 billion for drug eradication and interdiction in Colombia. We have already spent $600 million fighting the drug war in Colombia. What has been the result? The production of cocaine and heroine has skyrocketed. In fact, 80 percent of the cocaine and 75 percent of the heroin today in the United States comes from Colombia. Mr. Speaker, our priorities are all out of line in the war against drugs.…”