DRUG WAR IS DOING HARM

KUDOS to David Broder for his column ``Drug warriors face uphill fight''
(Opinion, Aug. 26) It might have been better titled ``Drug war debate goes
mainstream,'' such are Broder's credentials and readership.

Nevertheless, by using the phrase ``the scourge of drugs,'' he buys into
the drug warriors' propaganda. It can't be said with certainty that the
``scourge of drugs'' wasn't caused mostly by the ill-conceived ``zero
tolerance'' policy practiced by our criminal justice system. It may be
argued that the war on drugs actually increases use and abuse of the
prohibited drugs.

What can be said with certainty is that the drug war has created a bonanza
of benefits to law enforcement bureaucracies, prison systems, private
sector drug testing companies, treatment providers, military guerrilla
warfare specialists, lawyers, international drug traffickers and ``drug
warrior'' politicians. This special interests' synergy makes a powerful
economic and political force opposing rational debate.

The most successful ``drug war'' in history has been fought right here in
California against tobacco, a deadly, addictive drug. The tools were
education and social pressure tempered with tolerance. We need to similarly
restrict all our government's intrusions into our personal lives.

Gerald M. Sutliff
Oakland