LEGALIZATION WON'T SOLVE IT

I would like to respond to Paul Miller's statement (Letters, July 25) that
he sees the drug war as the "biggest single threat" to his 3- year-old, and
that we should "actually relegalize the use of these substances."

My greatest fear for my children's safety is a drunken driver, and alcohol
is a "legal drug." What about that other legal drug - tobacco? I cannot
imagine adding even one more drug to the horrifying daily statistics that
are grimly reported in the news.

Commendably, the Tribune has recently tried to highlight the necessity of
wearing seat belts as an example of our taking personal responsibility for
our own protection. Alcohol-related crashes are already epidemic in this
country.

The biggest problem with alcohol - and any other mind-altering drug - is
that you are leaving the decision not to drive because of having too much
to drink up to an impaired, inebriated person who has had too much to drink!

Need I mention that we do have enforceable age-restriction laws on the sale
and purchase of both alcohol and tobacco? Many underage teens smoke and,
unfortunately, some teens are involved in the heartbreaking alcohol-related
deaths and injuries that we read about all too often. These are preventable
tragedies. We need not have so many young lives ruined, parents consumed
with sorrow and communities that cry with them.

Please, no more legal drugs.