Pubdate: Tue, 18 Feb 2003
Source: Statesman Journal (OR)
Copyright: 2003 Statesman Journal
Contact:  http://www.statesmanjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/427
Author: Paul Stone
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n059/a01.html

PROHIBITION FEEDS DRUG WOES

Your recent article about methamphetamine in our high schools was a
case of the ostrich with its head in the sand. Meth has been in our
high schools for 20 to 30 years. To think it's something new because
of a large bust at McNary High School shows the media's ignorance and
tendency to sensationalize.

When you make blanket statements like, 'meth is a deadly weapon that
has no place in the hands of anyone,' you demonize the drug rather
than the behavior. Drugs can be good and bad.

Have you told your readers that methamphetamine is a prescription drug
under the trade name Desoxyn?

One way to help curb this problem would be to decriminalize drugs.
Prohibition of drugs enables kids access to all the drugs they desire.

Didn't you know adults now go to kids for drugs? If it's more toxic
now, that is directly due to the prohibitionist policies of
government, which clamp down on the precursors to make meth. This
results in a more toxic form of meth that is used by your sons and
daughters. Just like prohibition of alcohol led to bathtub gin, this
insane effort to eradicate all drugs has resulted in more poisonous
speed.

Paul Stone,
Salem
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