DESTROYING LIVES 'FOR THEIR OWN GOOD'

In her commentary on Robert Downey Jr. ("A Decision, Not a Disease,"
editorial page, April 27), Sally Satel demonstrates a cognitive dissonance
between the realities of drug abuse and the failure of the "war on drugs."
She correctly points out that Mr. Downey was making choices when he decided
to again use drugs, but she refuses to acknowledge that, whether she or
society like it or not, they are undeniably his choices to make.

The drug war is the worst, and most expensive, failure in U.S. history
precisely because much of the public, like Dr. Satel, refuses to
acknowledge that the unalienable rights endowed by our Creator, as outlined
in the Declaration of Independence, cannot ever be circumvented no matter
how much we wish we had the power to control the free will of another. This
is the very reason that prohibition of anything has never worked once in
all of recorded history. If someone wants something bad enough he or she
will get it -- something that is aptly demonstrated by the fact of rampant
drug use in virtually every prison in the country.

Ours is a drug policy that clearly demonstrates our schizophrenic national
desire to destroy peoples lives "for their own good." Drug abuse may be
bad, but the drug war is worse, much worse.

Mark Greer, Executive Director, DrugSense (MAP Inc.), Porterville, Calif.

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Most of us have friends or family members whose initial efforts to overcome
tobacco or alcohol were just as futile as Mr. Downey's to overcome cocaine.
Tobacco and alcohol are two addictive agents even more destructive to
health, but deemed "legal." Some of those addicts eventually succeed after
years of failure; others will die with their addictions still in control.
What Dr. Satel can't explain is why the introduction of police, judges and
the threat of imprisonment into the treatment equation is so essential for
some addictions, but unnecessary for others.

Beyond her narrow focus on addiction lies the fact that prohibition law, by
raising the prices of cheaply produced and easily smuggled commodities,
creates criminal markets that are irresistibly lucrative for both police
and criminals alike.

Tom O'Connell, M.D. San Mateo, Calif.

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I was shocked by Dr. Satel's commentary. Here we have an actor, a really
fine actor, who was given drugs by his hippie father when he was only six.
He grew up in the world of show business where drugs are widely used. In
spite of several attempts at rehab and jail sentences, Mr. Downey cannot
shake his drug habit. Dr. Satel suggests that he should leave the
drug-ridden world of Hollywood or he will never recover.

What does she suggest he do with his life -- become a carpenter? What proof
has she that using drugs is entirely a matter of decision? Scientifically,
she has no proof at all, but she does have an ideological belief that drug
users can decide not to use drugs. To separate Mr. Downey from the only
profession he knows, the only profession he is good at, would probably
drive him deeper into the drug culture, perhaps cause him to take his own life.

Donald Dougherty, New York