Pubdate: Tue, 04 Jan 2000
Source: Times-News, The (ID)
Copyright: 2000 Magic Valley Newspapers
Contact:  P.O. Box 548, Twin Falls, ID 83303
Fax: (208) 734-553
Feedback: http://www.magicvalley.com/submit.html
Website: http://www.magicvalley.com/
Author: Carol McDade
Cited: Licit and Illicit Drugs, Edward Brecher and the Editors of Consumer 
Reports; Little, Brown, and Co.1972
Go: to http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/Library/studies/cu/cumenu.htm 
for an online, full text version of this book.

GOVERNMENT WAGES A DIRTY WAR

I just finished a book about a war the government is fighting and does not 
appear to be winning. The subject is "The War on Drugs," and I feel it is a 
good idea for the public to look into this subject rather than believing 
everything the government is telling us.

The book is called "The Consumers Union Report on Narcotics, Stimulants, 
Depressants, Inhalants, Hallucinogens and Marijuana -- including Caffeine, 
Nicotine and Alcohol, Licit and Illicit Drugs" by Edward M. Brecher and the 
editors of Consumer Reports. The book was written to inform the public on 
the effects of the drugs, what research was being done to control the 
problem and the effects of prohibition and the government's handling of 
this problem. They turned all of the reports into the government in hopes 
that their findings would put an end to a serious problem the country was 
facing.

I found out about the report when I was reading "Ain't Nobody's Business If 
You Do" by Peter McWilliams. I found a copy at the College of Southern 
Idaho, and they also have one at the Twin Falls Public Library. The book 
was taken out of print many years ago, but I was able to find a copy from a 
lady who finds out-of-print books.

After reading what they thought were the government's mistakes, I find that 
no one read the report or maybe it was lost. Anyone who passes and enforces 
the laws on the prohibition and control of these drugs should read this 
report to get a better picture of what they are dealing with, because what 
they are doing is not even coming close to ending this war. It may even be 
causing more problems.

The public should be aware of this report because a great deal can be 
learned from it. There are billions of dollars being spent and lives being 
ruined due to this war. This war is not only ruining the lives of people 
who use the illicit drugs but is also hurting people who need some of these 
drugs because they are sick and many doctors are so afraid of the federal 
government that they let their patients suffer rather than having to risk 
an investigation.

Please read this book, as it may answer a lot of questions you have about 
the drugs that are considered a problem.

Carol McDade
Twin Falls
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