WE SHOULD BE AWARE OF HORRORS OF HEROIN

The events of Sept. 11 have left us all shocked and saddened. From the
complexity of the events on Sept. 11, it is clear that the terrorists had
been planning for quite some time. The question that is on the mind of many
is, "What's next? Will they attempt to poison our air or water supply?" I
think it is important that we all realize they already have unleashed
poison on us.

In the early 1990s, those who supply illegal drugs put a new strategy into
place for heroin. They decided to greatly increase its potency, thereby
making it possible to smoke or snort the drug rather than inject it. They
then "marketed" it to unsuspecting young people in the West who never would
have begun using heroin if they had to inject it.

Of course, once they tried it, they often became addicted immediately and
in short order found themselves injecting heroin several times daily. The
price tag for this daily ritual, which addicts are compelled to do to ward
off horrible withdrawal symptoms, is more than $100 each day.

The devastation that heroin has caused our community, our country and the
world may not be visible, but easily rivals the devastation of Sept. 11 in
terms of lives lost and families destroyed. And it has another component
that the events of Sept. 11 do not. What happened on Sept. 11 has
strengthened our character and brought us together as a country. Heroin has
undermined our moral fiber and caused our crime rate to skyrocket.

Most of the heroin that arrives in the United States comes from Colombia
via Mexico. Most of the heroin in Europe comes from Afghanistan. In fact,
the largest poppy fields in the world are in Afghanistan, providing a ready
source of income to those who control that region. What better way to
finance the terrorists' evil schemes?

Hijacked jetliners are lethal weapons, and we are now taking many
additional steps to ensure airline safety. What steps are we taking to
ensure safety from the insidious enemy within named heroin?

While we now need to be a nation on guard and watchful, we also need to
continue to be a nation of freedom, where all people are equal and
respected, whatever their nationality or religious beliefs.

The terrorists would delight at turning us into a nation of haters,
suspicious and intolerant of our neighbors just because of their religious
beliefs or ethnic background

We must find those responsible for the terrible events of Sept. 11 and all
those who support terrorism, and put a stop to their reign of terror. But
if we allow ourselves to be consumed with hate, then the enemy already has
won without dropping a single additional bomb.

Let us not live in ignorance about the evil plans that have been laid to
undermine our civilization; let us instead resolve to work together and
stand firm against this evil on all fronts, and may God bless and save America.

Darlene Marcusson

Executive Director

Lazarus House

St. Charles