Hope Taft's Oct 5 Forum column, "Parents can help kids stay drug-free,"
brings up the important role parents play in keeping their children from
using drugs.

Studies show that talking with one's kids reduces their chances of
using drugs, but Taft must learn a bit more about the drug problem
before educating the public.

First, she suggests that even occasionally using illicit drugs
sends the message that "my priority is drugs, not you." Why doesn't
this apply to legal drug use as well? Apparently, as she says,
"Children can understand and accept that there are differences between
what adults may do legally and what is appropriate and legal for
children."

If Taft is correct, then allowing adults to use marijuana legally
effectively would tell children it is not for them. I'm sure she would
deny that this would work, despite her statement to the contrary.
Fortunately, if parents used illegal drugs in the past, she
provides convenient excuses for them to use: One relies on the
misconception that drugs are more potent today than 20 years ago and
another suggests that parents stopped because "many" of their friends
died or became addicted.

Many more people are addicted to and die from alcohol than all
illegal drugs combined, but don't parents still have a glass of beer
or wine on occasion? To help their kids, parents need to know the
facts, not excuses or scary stories. Parents need to learn about
drugs; then they can teach their children more effectively and
honestly.

Fortunately, information is now available on the Internet (at
http://www.druglibrary.org). I hope Taft an her organization will take
advantage of it.

Jay Bowen
Columbus