MODERN FORM OF PROHIBITION WON'T WORK ANY BETTER

I commend Dr. Federico Cruz-Uribe for taking a public stance (Perspectives,
7-22) on the insanity of our war on people, often misnamed the War on
Drugs. I think he is being excessively humble in saying no one knows if
Prohibition worked.

Surely, we all know it did not, if we mean it did not stop the use of
alcohol. We also know that it did, if we mean it worked to net immense
financial gain to illicit distributors of alcohol and corrupt government
officials. Prohibition II, the drug war, works in just the same ways.

Drug prohibition is clearly a waste of money taxed away from individuals. I
do not agree that continuing to take that money and wasting it on
government treatment programs is a good idea. Drug use does not respond
well to treatment. The most optimistic figures I've ever read put failure
at over 80 percent.

As the good doctor says, "Why do we keep wasting money? A successful
business tries something out and looks at results."

BRIAN TRUNK; University Place