DRUGGIES' BURDEN

It is obvious that your editor's departure has not changed your editorial
policy, which supports ending the "war on drugs." If only it were that easy!

I presume you believe that what people do in the privacy of their own homes
should be their own business if it doesn't affect others. Fair enough, but
drug abuse does affect others.

In today's society, we seem to be responsible for everybody's actions but
our own. We pay taxes to provide welfare for those who won't or can't work
because of drug use. We pay for medical treatment caused by drug-induced
accidents, and we pay to support the neglected or abused children of drug
users.

I may be old-fashioned, but I would rather fight the war on drugs than have
society overrun with druggies. They know there is a price to be paid for
illegal drug use. Hold them responsible and make them pay it. That goes
more than double for drug pushers. It's bad enough that alcohol is a legal
drug with all the problems it causes. Making more drugs legal and cheap
will create a whole new set of problems.

ROBERT MAHEU

Niceville