TO AVOID DRUG WAR'S DAMAGE, SWITCH STRATEGY

Cynthia Tucker's April 30 column "Drug war burns lives as badly as the
scourge" is so true that it is clear we have lost the war. Yet America
continues to waste billions repeating the same inadequate actions.

All the government does is interdict a few drugs, while many more reach our
shores. And punishment of the users -- without drug treatment -- and
attempted prosecution and imprisonment of the drug dealers has produced
only losses, of billions of dollars, court time and police time. Mistakes
are costing the lives of innocents, as in the Peruvian incident.

We need to try a new approach to reduce drug use. A better use of money and
a more love-oriented attitude toward users might reduce addiction to these
poisons.

Some of the misspent money could finance a medically controlled effort to
supply free drugs to addicts. This would instantly financially disable all
illegal drug activities. A portion of the money could be used for better
treatment, prevention programs and education.

SHELDON E. BLAUSTEIN

West Palm Beach