COCAINE IS HARMFUL

Ed Middleswart was upset that a drug dealer was sentenced to life in
prison for "marketing" cocaine. ("War on Drugs is a distortion of true
justice," Dec. 19).

Middleswart stated "no evidence was provided indicating the man had
harmed anyone or was in any way a threat to society." He added to the
perverted logic by writing "there is no evidence that cocaine products
are more addicting or damaging to individual health and social welfare
than many socially acceptable drugs."

Middleswart stated the dealer needed treatment and rehabilitation
instead of a prison sentence. He obviously has never had any
first-hand experience with cocaine addicts or drug dealers.

I have personally arrested many dealers, and the vast majority would
never use the poison they sell because they see what it does. They
only seek to profit. I have had addicts thank me for arresting them
because they knew jail would give them a forced absence from drugs and
they could try to rebuild their lives upon release.

A prime example illustrating the harm to individuals and society can
be found in an article published three days prior to Middleswart's
viewpoint. Timothy Anton Holms was convicted of raping, assaulting and
robbing an 84-year-old woman while he was high on cocaine. I think
these two people would strongly disagree that cocaine isn't harmful.

Ronald J. Williams, Pensacola