POISONOUS MARKET

Harris County (Houston) authorities reported that 15 people died in a
48-hour period recently, the results of a deadly batch of heroin or
cocaine. No doubt many good people will say this is more reason to
prosecute a drug war. But is it?

From the era of Prohibition come the same kind of horror stories of poison
brew that occurred over and over again during those years. There are
several books in the Fort Worth library system that detail this.

One of the Harris County victims was a 16-year-old girl. Perhaps she had
been dabbling in drugs for a long time. Or perhaps this was her first
mistake. Whatever way it was, I am sure her family was devastated.

I think this is more reason to seek a market for these drugs that is
regulated, rather than the completely uncontrolled black market that now
exists.

Meantime, it is possible that some of the same poison batch is on its way
to the Fort Worth area. I am going to guess that most teenagers and other
possible illegal drug customers don't read the news.

Larry Nickerson
Fort Worth