In this country, we spend a disproportionate amount of our national resources for our health system. In spite of this expenditure, our system has failed in many respects. A large part of the problem is the present emphasis on the treatment of disease rather than the maintenance of health. As a result, our society is spending valuable resources to correct problems caused by inadequate preventive health care and unhealthy lifestyles and environments. We believe in reform of the health care system that emphasizes prevention of health problems rather than costly treatment of disease. We currently have the knowledge and technology to assure health for most of our citizens. Readily available preventive care including prenatal care and health care services for poor people could save millions of dollars and prevent much human agony and suffering. We encourage people in our society to learn to take personal responsibility for their own health and learn to make the changes in their lifestyles and community life that support human and ecological health to prevent most disease and human suffering.

We believe that health care is a basic right. However, we do not believe that this means that everyone has a right to every imaginable health-care technology and procedure. We must accept the reality that our society cannot afford to apply every expensive technology without considering quality of life and curability. All forms of medical practice require careful examination so that we can achieve the most benefit for the most people.

We advocate the development of a new comprehensive approach to health care that is publicly supported and is affordable and accessible to all citizens. As part of this comprehensive approach, we also advocate reforms of the health care delivery system and long-term solutions that will decrease the costs of our health care system while improving the health of our citizens.

Drugs:

We support an approach that decriminalizes drugs. This approach will greatly reduce the violence associated with the present "war on drugs." We realize that this approach will not by itself eliminate the problems of drug abuse. However, long- term solutions must address the root causes of drug abuse such as the lack of good jobs, education, and support for families. The development of community values that promote self-esteem in every individual will do much to prevent drug abuse.

We support:

• A health system that emphasizes prevention rather than treatment and is available to all citizens regardless of their financial status.
• Programs that support individuals with chronic illnesses to maintain the best quality of life possible through community-based programs that help maintain independence.
• Hospice care and other support programs for the dying.
• Educational and economic strategies and programs that promote the health of all citizens.
• The rights of individuals to make educated choices regarding their own health care.
• A step-by-step program to decriminalize drugs, beginning with drugs that are less dangerous or are used for medical purposes and proceeding as information is gathered and model programs are developed.
• The rights of communities to be involved in developing their own drug policies and rehabilitation programs.
• The redirection of funds used for the "drug war" to research, education, prevention, and treatment programs.
• Regulation of the quality and purity of all drugs and adequate labeling including the effects of use.
• Prohibition of all advertising that encourages or glamorizes the use of any drug, including alcohol and tobacco.
• An honest and informed education campaign about drugs.
• The availability of free disposable needles to prevent the spread of disease.