Pubdate: Sat, 29 Jan 2000
Source: Arizona Republic (AZ)
Copyright: 2000 The Arizona Republic
Contact:  200 E. Van Buren St., Phoenix, AZ 85004
Website: http://www.azcentral.com/news/
Forum: http://www.azcentral.com/pni-bin/WebX?azc
Author: Peter Stoker
Note: "Last week's (Jan. 22) questions about the war on drugs brought a
record 161 letters."
Related: Series Index at http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n103/a01.html

BEWARE DRUG CULTURE PUSH

Those of us working worldwide for the prevention of drug use sometimes
wonder if the media are seriously interested in helping to prevent drug use
and returning society to those saner days when illegal substances were only
used by a very small minority of people. A time when crime levels were
lower, when neighborhoods were safe communities and when our young people
were bright eyed and had a future to look forward to.

Here in the United Kingdom we join with our colleagues globally to present
facts (not opinions) to the general public in order that they might be made
more aware of the push by the drugs culture to relax laws which the
populace at large do not want changed.

As signatories to the United Nations Convention the USA would never
legalize drugs - and the U.S. media should be helping to uphold these
International laws made for the benefit of all not continually calling them
into question by the publication of calls to legalize from a vocal minority.

Peter Stoker, Director, National Drug Prevention Alliance, United Kingdom
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D