PHARM PARTY CLAIMS OVERBLOWN

Ms. Wascher's article on pharm parties was unfortunately long on
fear-mongering and short on facts. A quick Google search reveals that
this phenomenon has been overblown by the media, if it happens at all.
This was best researched on www.slate.com, in their series: "Stupid
Drug Story of the Week". I have worked as an Emergency Physician for
15 years and have never heard a patient use the phrase or come to the
hospital after attending such a party. There's a long history of
anti-drug hysteria, stretching back to "Reefer Madness", which does a
disservice to our children. By presenting our children with drug
information that's wrong or overblown, we lose our credibility when we
have to caution them about real dangers.

Ian Mitchell,

Kamloops, B.C.