THINK OUTSIDE THE ZONE

I have a better idea. If drug-free zones really work ("Debate over
drug-free zones," June 15), then just make the whole city a drug-free
zone and there won't be any drugs in the city anymore. Better yet,
make the whole state a drug-free zone and there won't be any drugs in
the state. Even better, declare all of North America a drug-free zone
and drugs will disappear from the entire continent.

The idea that "drug-free zones" will eliminate drugs is absurd, of
course -- even if we ignore the obvious hypocrisy of alcohol and
tobacco sellers within those zones. What drug-free zones really do is
prove beyond question that public officials have never read the most
basic research on the subject and really don't have a clue what to
do.

Clifford A. Schaffer, Agua Dulce, Calif.

The writer is director, Schaffer Library of Drug Policy.