DEALING WITH DRUGS

Editor -- I agree with columnist Debra Saunders less than half the time, but
that's still a lot more often than I find affinity with some of your other
political commentators. She is right on the mark Tuesday in praising Tom
Campbell's proposal for dealing with illegal drugs like heroin through
community-based clinical programs distributing the drugs free, combined with
treatment, thereby breaking the criminal stranglehold on neighborhoods.
Nothing else the government does is working.

I'm especially intrigued by the fact that it is moderate Republicans, not
liberal Democrats, who are beginning to speak out against Reagan's failed
``War on Drugs.'' Clinton shows no imagination or leadership on the subject,
nor does Dianne Feinstein. Perhaps a few sane and successful, ``radically''
new approaches to heroin use would strengthen the rational arguments for a
wiser approach to less harmful substances, like marijuana. Democratic S.F.
politicos are stunningly absent from the debate, as are the many Chronicle
readers who regularly vilify Saunders.

In the meantime, parents are urged to teach their kids not to experiment,
while huge corporate profits continue to roll in from the sale and
widespread use across America of some of the most dangerous, addictive and
life-destroying drugs, such as alcohol. Try explaining that to your kids.

DENNIS GREEN, Alameda