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: George W. Iliff
Note: "Last week's (Jan. 22) questions about the war on drugs brought a
record 161 letters."

DANGER IS EXAGGERATED

The danger of illegal drugs has been enormously exaggerated.

As Peter Jennings pointed out some time ago, the fact that 4,000 people die 
each year from illegal drugs is nothing compared to the 550,000 people who 
die from the effects of smoking and alcohol. And how about the 41,000 who 
die from auto accidents, the 98,000 who die from medical errors and the 
300,000 who die from the effects of obesity. Let us use a little 
perspective on the size of the problem.

Yes, there is a lot of violence and death surrounding illegal drugs but 
that is due to the illegal nature of the business - this violence would 
stop immediately if drugs were legalized. Just refer back in history to 
when prohibition was repealed.

- - George W. Iliff, Sun City
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart