LEGALIZING DRUGS WRONG ANSWER

I read, with interest, the guest editorial, "Legalization of drugs
ends raids." The writer states that he is the founder of Law
Enforcement Against Prohibition, and would like drugs legalized
because the drug war is not working and is costing us lives and money.
In my experience, the cost of not enforcing drug laws is even more
harmful to our society. In the interest of full disclosure, let me say
that I serve with the author of that op-ed as a member of the Citizens
Review Panel.

The writer said that he is "dedicated to reducing drug-related harm of
all kinds." I don't understand how legalizing drugs helps the problem.
Society has found that legalizing drugs tends to increase their use as
well as the crime associated with them. For this reason, in 1994, a
group of European cities including London, Berlin, Paris, and others,
banded together to sign the "European Cities Against Drugs"
resolution, which called for the rejection of "demands for legalizing
illicit drugs." (www.Nida.nih.gov)

The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse stated the
problem most eloquently, "Drugs are not a problem in American society
because they are illegal; they are illegal because they are a threat
to American society." (www.usdoj.gov/dea) When we fail to fight
against something, we are condoning it. By legalizing drugs we are
saying it's OK to use them. Anyone who uses drugs can tell you that
they are a "yoke of bondage." Most drugs are highly addicting. That is
why there is so much crime associated with their use. Someone using
cocaine or methamphetamine will not stop using the drug until there
are no more drugs to use. Since the drug user will not be able to
afford to pay for his drugs, that leaves the taxpayer to pay for them
and all of the health issues that follow.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there
were 16,664 alcohol-related traffic deaths in 2004. If drugs are
legalized, can we expect that number to go down? I don't believe so.
If we can't keep people from driving under the influence of the legal
drug or alcohol we won't be able to keep people from driving under the
influence of illegal drugs.

Let's not be seduced by the enticing argument that the problems of
drug abuse will go away if legalized. Mind-altering drugs are
dangerous. By legalizing them, there will be an increase in use.

As Alexander Pope wrote, "Vice is a monster of so frightful mien, as
to be hated needs but to be seen; yet seen too oft, familiar with her
face, we first endure, then pity, then embrace."

Ask any substance abuse counselor and he or she will agree: drugs
adversely affect the individual, the family, the workplace and the
entire community.

Keep America safe for us all. Keep drugs illegal. Find a better way to
fight them, but do not condone them with legalization.