ILLEGAL DRUG COSTS

I read with interest Dimitri Vassilaros' July 31 column reiterating
Pittsburgh police Chief Robert W. McNeilly Jr.'s comments on jailing drug
users.

A young person I know is in jail in another state for drug use. Maybe drug
users should not be in jail. But many advance to other crimes - thievery,
prostitution and drug-selling. And long before any of these activities,
they have torn a family apart, and society has paid for numerous social
workers.

Being in jail without drugs for an extended time might do more to break the
habit than rehabilitation centers can.

No doubt there probably always will be illegal drugs, but is everything
being done for quick and adequate punishment of drug pushers and
manufacturers? Is everything possible being done to keep drug imports out
of the country?

Edith Morgan
Baldwin Borough