MANY REPERCUSSIONS TO SUCH A MAJOR DECISION

Editor: This is a response to the letters in the Feb. 14 issue of The Times.

They call for legalizing meth. Are these letter writers serious?

I suppose then, if we are to consider legalizing this destructive
drug, we may as well throw in all the other highly addictive,
dangerous and deadly drugs as well. Heroin should probably get thrown
in there -- so many people use it and are addicted to it now -- let's
just make it that much easier for people to get hooked.

What a great idea. If I'm in a particularly adventurous mood, and
feel like playing Russian Roulette, I can just walk into the drug
store and buy.

Or maybe heroin or crystal meth should be regulated, and given out
by prescription only. I can just envision going into my doctor's
office, asking for a perscription for crystal meth, because I'd like
to just try it.

Give it a whirl, what the heck.

Some merit could be given to the theory that, if these drugs were
legal, there would be no profit to being a dealer or having a meth lab.

But legalizing these drugs will not solve the problem of people
getting addicted, nor will it stop the next "bigger and better" high
someone is bound to create. It would send the wrong message -- that
if it's legal, it must be okay. What does that tell my children?

The addiction to these drugs has destroyed so many lives, ruined so
many families and friendships, and caused so many deaths -- directly
and indirectly. These are not drugs to be taken lightly. It cannot
be compared to having liquor stores -- these chemicals can kill you
on your first try, addict you within one or two uses.

A greater availablity means more addicts, which affects our welfare
system, medical system and mental health system -- areas already
under strain. It will not make the drugs cheaper, thereby will not
stop the addict with no income from committing crimes to get money
for his next fix.

As easy as the 'legalization' solution may seem, there is a much
larger picture to be considered.

Monique Tirshman.

Langley