Source: Des Moines Register (IA)
Contact:  http://www.dmregister.com/
Pubdate: 09 Aug 98
Author: W. L. Anderson

[OPINION/LETTERS]

NEED THE FACTS ON DRUGS

Your review of "Drug Crazy" by Mike Gray ("Straight Thinking About
Drugs," July 19 Books & Arts) points to a reasonable middle path
between the present "drug war" madness and giving up to total
legalization.   Your review seems to indicate that real education on
the effects of drugs on the brain and willpower are not covered in the
book.  I'm talking about real education, not the PR fluff that
emanates from the ad agencies.

Adults and kids alike can see through the present, obvious and
insulting attempts at manipulation using dumbing-down, talk-down
approaches.  My opinion is that if we don't have any hard-hitting
facts to talk about, then we don't have any right or reason to ask
kids to avoid or quit drugs.

Surely we can do better than the weak-kneed pablum we see on TV.
They're still using the old frying pan, only instead of frying the egg
they smash it with the pan.  Who concocts these things?  Who reviews
and approves them?  I can only assume my taxes are probably paying in
whole or in part for such half-hearted junk.

- - W. L. Anderson,
214 I Ave, Nevada.

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Checked-by: Rich O'Grady