AT THE END OF THE LINE

There Are Hidden Costs of Recreational Drug Use

We hate to be a drag about recreational drug use, but hypocrisy can
be such a bummer.

Take, for example, the vegetarian, leather-free, anti-globalization
activist who bristles at the thought of killing a cow and yet thinks
nothing of lighting up a joint in her college dorm room just like her
parents did. Consider the twentysomething law clerk who sees no
problem partying late into the night with a snort or two of cocaine.

There's no telling how many people reading these words have been
there, done that and never thought twice about the human misery
behind recreational drugs. Unless users actually want to make the
world a more dangerous place, there's no way they can justify the
violence and bloodshed they're helping to fund.

According to the 2007 U.N. world drug report, nearly half of all
cocaine produced in the world is consumed in North America. Texas
ranks among the highest-usage areas, along with New York, Florida and
New England. Although adolescent cocaine use in America is declining,
statistics show that casual use among young adults remains steady. In
Europe, it's rising.

Now take a sober look at the trail of death in countries where
cocaine, heroin and marijuana are produced.

In Colombia, guerrillas and paramilitary thugs are vying for control
of vast swaths of the countryside where base ingredients of cocaine
and heroin are grown. They are tearing up families, killing adults
and turning children into warriors all for drug money.

The Taliban in Afghanistan the same group that hosted al-Qaeda is
using opium profits to fund its insurgency.

In Mexico, rival cartels are turning entire cities into war zones.
Drug-related violence is at record highs.

Closer to home, the tattooed gang members rampaging through Oak Cliff
and East Dallas also are the local enforcers and street distributors
for major drug cartels. They make "cheese," sinsemilla marijuana,
ecstasy and methamphetamine available to students in our local
schools and universities.

Still seem like harmless, victimless good fun? Think again after
washing the blood from your hands.