Pubdate: Sun, 04 Jan 2004
Source: Langley Times (CN BC)
Copyright: 2004 BC Newspaper Group and New Media Development
Contact:  http://www.langleytimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1230
Author: Jose Melendez
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n1899/a07.html
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?233 (LEAP)

ANTI-DRUG EFFORTS FAIL

Editor: Re: We'll Prove You Wrong, (The Times, Dec. 5).

Whatever your age, it takes guts to write a letter to a newspaper editor.

However, several studies prove anti-drug efforts either increase substance 
abuse and youth use rates, or as Harold Woolridge (The Times, Nov. 28) 
points out, have no meaningful influence on whether a teenager uses drugs, 
legal or illegal.

Think about it. Woolridge formed Law Enforcement Against Prohibition - 
against his own professional interests - to blow the whistle on such 
fraudulent abuses of community resources.

My own country's "Justice" department even admits that during historical 
periods of drug or alcohol prohibition, homicides increase drastically.

So, when a 10-year-old girl defends a program shown to increase marijuana 
consumption among 12 and 13-year-old girls, I wonder about those charged 
with her care.

I'm guessing Cpl. Tomalty's fun and worthwhile classes will steer clear of 
discussing how alcohol prohibition increased budgets, firepower and 
paychecks on both sides of that 'noble experiment'. Not to mention youth 
access and abuse.

That's what I D.A.R.E. say.

Jose Melendez, DeLand, Florida
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager