WAR ON DRUGS SHOULD BE ABANDONED

In response to the July 28 article "More, cheaper heroin seen in
Shore area," the ongoing attempt to stem the flow of drugs is absurd.

Unfortunately, people want to use drugs, and billions of tax dollars
have been flushed down the toilet trying to stop the illicit drug
trade. We should stop the charade and either legalize drug use or
stop enforcement of the unenforceable drug laws.

The government shouldn't be in the business of changing behavior. If
people want to use heroin, or any other drugs for that matter, they
should be allowed. It will have no effect on the number of deaths
overall. Drug use is the same as drinking or any other vice: A
certain number of unfortunate people will overdose and die, others
will use drugs and destroy their lives, and the majority of people
will try drugs, discontinue using them and live productive lives.

To continue wasting the resources of our police and judicial system
on this comedy of arrest, trial and incarceration does the taxpayers
of New Jersey no good.

Drop the anti-drug programs, evict all nonviolent drug offenders from
prison and discontinue all cooperation with federal anti-drug
authorities.

I don't use drugs, nor do I advocate drug use. My ideas represent the
only reasonable solution to the problem and are long overdue.

J. Thomas Dilberger

Belmar