Pubdate: Mon, 30 Apr 2001 Source: Northwest Florida Daily News (FL) Copyright: 2001 Northwest Florida Daily News Contact: http://www.nwfdailynews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/313 Author: Robert Maheu DRUGGIES' BURDEN It is obvious that your editor's departure has not changed your editorial policy, which supports ending the "war on drugs." If only it were that easy! I presume you believe that what people do in the privacy of their own homes should be their own business if it doesn't affect others. Fair enough, but drug abuse does affect others. In today's society, we seem to be responsible for everybody's actions but our own. We pay taxes to provide welfare for those who won't or can't work because of drug use. We pay for medical treatment caused by drug-induced accidents, and we pay to support the neglected or abused children of drug users. I may be old-fashioned, but I would rather fight the war on drugs than have society overrun with druggies. They know there is a price to be paid for illegal drug use. Hold them responsible and make them pay it. That goes more than double for drug pushers. It's bad enough that alcohol is a legal drug with all the problems it causes. Making more drugs legal and cheap will create a whole new set of problems. ROBERT MAHEU Niceville - --- MAP posted-by: GD