Pubdate: Tue, 24 Feb 2009 Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC) Copyright: 2009 Times Colonist Contact: http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/letters.html Website: http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481 Author: K.V. Cutler ATTACK REASONS FOR DRUG USE We're told that if we legalize drugs all of our problems will magically go away. Alcohol is legal and the police "waste" lots of time dealing with the effects of its use as well -- the CounterAttack program, the domestic violence calls for alcohol-fuelled beatings, the car chases and crashes caused by drunk drivers, the vandalism and mayhem caused by bar patrons, the house parties that get out of control, the apprehension of neglected and abused children and the assaults and murders in which alcohol played a role. Instead of arguing over what substances should be legal, we should deal with the real issue -- the reasons people use drugs in the first place. If we do a better job of dealing with mental illness, homelessness, depression, loneliness and despair and poor or abusive parenting maybe we will decrease the demand for all things mind-bending. People use drugs to make themselves feel better about themselves and the world around them. There are much better ways that don't destroy one's mind and body, but people need proper guidance to find those ways. K.V. Cutler Victoria - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin