Sir, Prohibition has failed significantly to reduce heroin demand or supply (report, March 2). History shows that the prohibition of a product that is in huge demand simply creates a huge criminal market.

While opium production remains illegal and in the hands of criminals, efforts to eradicate its production are completely futile. Even if some opium is destroyed or intercepted, production is so lucrative that it will simply move elsewhere. Global production of both heroin and cocaine has been untouched by the billions being poured into increasingly aggressive drug control efforts.

More than half of global opium production — for the medical market — is already legal, is regulated, taxed and does not profit criminals. The only way to collapse the illegal opium market is to replace it with one that is legally regulated. This would put the traffickers out of business overnight.

Yours sincerely,
DANNY KUSHLICK,
Director,
Transform,
Easton Business Centre,
Felix Road, Bristol BS5 0HE.
March 2.

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