Pubdate: Mon, 18 Jun 2001
Source: Houston Chronicle (TX)
Copyright: 2001 Houston Chronicle
Contact:  http://www.chron.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/198

DON'T FORGET ALCOHOL

Regarding Terry Hood's June 9 Viewpoints letter, "For the sake of society": 
When we raise the level of the drug war, let's not forget to apply it to 
all drugs, fairly.

Anyone behind the wheel of a vehicle with a blood-alcohol level above the 
legal limit should also be jailed immediately.

Thousands of children are left orphans when their parents are killed while 
driving under the influence.

And let's not forget the babies who are born deformed because of their 
mother's chemical or alcohol abuse. These people also abandon their 
children, physically abuse their children, divorce each other and fight 
over custody rights.

Juvenile offenders are a problem here, also.

The easy access to alcohol must also be due to "lack of proper focus, poor 
leadership and politics and underfunding. There is not one person in this 
country whose life has not been affected, in some way, by" alcohol.

We should probably kick down the doors of people suspected of drinking to 
excess and who might go out and drive, putting someone at risk in the 
process. Let's not forget to test the blood of every prospective employee.

Prohibition didn't work for alcohol and it isn't working for these other 
drugs, either.

Alcohol offenders deserve harsh treatment and should receive more than just 
the slap on the wrist they now get even after multiple offenses, "for the 
sake of society."

Alice T. Veley, Houston
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom