Williams and O’Connor innocent

Another headline. More drug victims.

At this point, Ali Williams and James O'Connor, two former test rugby stars, are guilty of nothing, having been arrested on cocaine charges in Paris. And guilty of nothing they are, whatever the outcome.

Has there ever been a more futile, damaging legal line than the ridiculous war on drugs?

It has created so many victims, in so many ways. Prohibition, as it inevitably does, has created a disaster it can't solve.

Williams and O'Connor are just two more victims, their names dragged through unflattering headlines. They will be condemned chris.rattue@ nzherald.co. nz by sports bosses, men who care only for image and know nothing about what they talk about.

When drugs are an issue in people's lives, it is a health issue. It should not be a legal one. Prohibition is creating the problem, and not only because it has the potential to ruin job prospects, travel opportunities, etc (as it may well do with Williams, the former All Black lock, and O'Connor, once a diminutive Wallaby back).

We need to stop demonising drugs and the people who use them by allowing politicians to hurl votecatching cliches about. Many drug users cause no problems at all, nor suffer beyond the standard physical risks associated with other problems such as high sugar intake, tobacco/ alcohol use and a sedentary lifestyle.

Which brings us to addiction. As I've said before in columns, those in the rehabilitation business estimate more than 80 per cent of people in our jails have substance abuse problems. We need to approach that intelligently, not on false pretences while waving a big stick.

For many years, I put everything and anything into my body, without remotely believing I deserved to be regarded as a criminal, or was a danger to society beyond the poor family and friends who had to deal with the consequences.

My body, my right. I know many, many people who did the same, and some still do without major issues. They are all very fine people, and none have stood outside primary schools, selling drugs to kids (an image drug bashers love to push).

Actually, using drugs can be a lot of fun. Of course, both drugs and