Pubdate: Fri, 19 November 1999
Source: Naples Daily News (FL)
Copyright: 1999 Naples Daily News.
Contact:  http://www.naplesnews.com/
Section: Letter of the Day
Author: William H. Burgess, Naples

ANY VOLUNTEERS?

You recently (Nov. 5) published a letter from a reader who complained
that the war on drugs is going poorly. Right on!

He also said that the best way to reduce drug use is to remove the
profit from pushing drugs.

Well, maybe.

He then went on to say that the government should distribute drugs,
actually provide them for a small charge or even free to anyone who is
willing to sit through a course on the negative effect of their use.

Whoa. Here's where we part company.

I once thought that this might be an effective solution, until I
considered just who those people receiving government-sponsored drugs
might be.

How about ... your granddaughter's baby sitter? Your children's school
teacher? Their school bus driver? Your friendly pharmacist or surgeon?
Maybe the guy driving the 16-wheeler alongside you at 75 mph at night
on Interstate75?

No. We should fight the war differently and better. But, handing out
government-approved drugs to adults and young people can't be the answer.

William H. Burgess, 
Naples
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