Pubdate: Sun, 24 Aug 2003
Source: Sunday Gazette-Mail (WV)
Copyright: 2003, Sunday Gazette-Mail
Contact:  http://sundaygazettemail.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1404
Author: Earl Robert Merritt Jr.

PEOPLE MUST CALL FOR WAR ON DRUGS

Editor:

Last month I wrote a letter regarding my late brother, Steven Mark Merritt, 
from Charleston, who died from OxyContin and cocaine intoxication. I 
received numerous responses from people who complained that I did not love 
or respect my brother.

Yes, I loved my brother. No, I did not respect his lifestyle of drugs and 
crime. I begged Steve in endless conversations to change and stop using 
drugs. He scoffed at me, and he also elected to turn his back on God, too! 
God is now his judge.

Apparently some readers didn't get the message. Charleston's young people 
are ruining their lives every day from drugs, and their families are not 
"waking up and smelling the coffee" until it is too late. How many more 
Steves and Stephanies are standing in line for the grim reaper?

Why is there not a public outcry for our officials to wage a real war 
against drugs?

Earl Robert Merritt Jr., New York, NY
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