CNN International

Former Colombian president blasts U.S. anti-drug strategy

Oct 14--Former Colombian President Cesar Gaviria on Tuesday strongly criticized the United States' approach to fighting drugs.

14 de octubre de 2009

"Just putting all consumers in jail, as the U.S. does, is not a solution," he told CNN's Christiane Amanpour. "You have to reduce consumption."

In a wide ranging interview, Gaviria said the United States now has more people in jail for narco-trafficking or related crimes than there are prisoners in the whole of Europe.

"What you need to do with addicts and people who consume drugs is deal with them as a health problem, an education problem," he said.

Gaviria and two other former Latin American presidents -- Fernando Cardoso of Brazil and Ernesto Zedillo of Mexico -- are all arguing the war on drugs has failed and it is time to replace current policy with what they call a more humane and efficient approach.
 
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