Pubdate: Tue, 02 May 2000 Source: New York Times (NY) Copyright: 2000 The New York Times Company Contact: 229 West 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036 Fax: (212) 556-3622 Website: http://www.nytimes.com/ Forum: http://www10.nytimes.com/comment/ Author: Gerald M. Sutliff "THE ABUSE OF HEROIN; ALL AROUND" Re "Heroin Carries AIDS to a Region in Siberia" (front page, April 24): As your article makes clear, it is not heroin that causes infection with H.I.V., the virus that causes AIDS. Rather, it is ignorance accompanied by needle use. Ignorance, unwise needle use, police corruption and the rapidly increasing popularity of heroin are the direct consequences of prohibition. Gerald M. Sutliff Emeryville, Calif. April 24, 2000 - --- MAP posted-by: Greg