Pubdate: Wed, 08 May 2002 Source: Watertown Daily Times (NY) Copyright: 2002 Watertown Daily Times Contact: http://www.wdt.net Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/792 Author: Larry Seguin END PROHIBITION End drug gangs. End prohibition. (Watertown Police Ready To Crack Down On Gangs, 28 April).Look at their ages. They all should be DARE graduates. (Tax payer tab-$700 million per year). In January 1998, the Office of National Drug Control Policy began the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign. Anti-drug ads dominated the airwaves and television screen, appearing more than 445,000 times. Since 1998, the ads have reached 90 percent of minors at least seven times a week. Is that a failure too? (Tax payer tab-$1 billion per year). The previous article on the gangs stated " they come to Watertown because the larger cities are saturated with drugs." That contradicts The Office of National Drug Control Policy claims of "70% reduction in drug use since the mid-80s". When you have a drug policy that makes a 25 cent plant worth $8,000, drug free or not, the big money looks good! Unfortunately the rest of the article was predictable. The need for more money for more law enforcement. More of what hasn't worked for the pass 30 years. The article goes on to blame the usual, parents, music, TV, without looking at the real problem! Prohibition! Larry Seguin, Lisbon, New York - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager