GREATNESS AND DRUGS DON'T GO TOGETHER

Re: Look to history for a clear view, and The dismal drug war results,
letters, Aug. 13.

As a former drug abuse counselor for juveniles, there are two facts I'm
certain of:

1. Drug use, even excluding the user, is not a victimless event.

2. Making drug use legal does not change No. 1.

As a student of history, I believe it can be easily argued that the
American civilization is the greatest that humanity has ever seen. Two of
the many reasons for our greatness are:

1. We work hard.

2. We are educated.

Drug use is antithetical to both of these. I don't know about the
proponents of legalized drug use, but I like the fact that MY country is
the greatest country in the world. If I wanted to live in a country that
was less than the greatest, I would emigtate to somewhere else in the
world, maybe where drugs are legal. The proponents of legalized drug use
should consider that option.