DRUG DEATHS?

To The Editor:

The LTE 14 Jan 2001 (DRUG DEATHS) by Mr. Shaver was long on propaganda, but
short on facts! After two days of research I have no idea where he got the
figure "42,000 deaths by drugs per year"! He uses the term 'drugs'( which I
interrupt as all drugs), then near the end of the LTE he refers to
'illegal drugs'. In either case he is incorrect. I would like to clarify
his misconception.

Deaths per year from legal drugs Tobacco- 418,000. Prescription drugs-
165,000. Alcohol- 100,000.

Deaths per year from ( all ) illegal drugs 16,000.

His statement " One in six Americans addicted to drugs" can't be verified either.

14 million addicted to alcohol, 4 million addicted to ( all ) illegal drugs. That's no where near 0ne in six! Even if you add in people addicted to tobacco, Prescription drugs, and sex, you would be stretching it to get to one in fifty!

The word felon is music to a politicians ears. I can understand a felony charge for a violent crime, but not for marijuana. A felon loses his or her right to own a rifle. (We hear about gun control legislation monthly, this is a back door approach to gun control). Also in 12-13 states a felon loses his or her right to vote. The war on illegal drugs has turned in to a form of social control! That's why since 1996, 17 of the 19 drug policy reform initiatives have passed. The American people are saying enough is enough.

Source: Drug Abuse Warning Network and the Lindesmith Center. National institute on drug abuse. Attorney Generals office. Time magazine (Dec. 99) whitehousedrugpolicy.gov. Office of National Drug control Policy. National Household Survey on Drug Abuse. 1999 Monitoring the Future Study.

Larry Seguin, Lisbon, New York