MUSICIANS, DRUGS AND GIL SCOTT-HERON

To the Editor:

The musician Gil Scott-Heron (front page, July 10) is but a highly
visible casualty of the unjust and misguided "war on drugs." The Nobel
economist Milton Friedman said it best in a 1972 article, and again on
your Op-Ed page three years ago:

"On ethical grounds, do we have the right to use the machinery of
government to prevent an individual from becoming an alcoholic or a drug
addict? For children, almost everyone would answer at least a qualified
yes. But for responsible adults, I, for one, would answer no. Reason
with the potential addict, yes. Tell him the consequences, yes. Pray for
and with him, yes. But I believe that we have no right to use force,
directly or indirectly, to prevent a fellow man from committing suicide,
let alone from drinking alcohol or taking drugs."

This system has made a criminal of Mr. Scott-Heron, as it has with so
many others who should enjoy the fundamental right to be left alone.

Vaughn A. Carney,
Stowe, Vt., July 11, 2001