WAR ON SOME DRUGS

Sgt. Barnwell was quoted by Michael Massey
yesterday as saying "We crack down on drugs every day. N.C. State has
a no-tolerance policy on drugs." This statement is a fantastic
representation of the current state of our drug policy, in that we do
not truly have a "war on drugs," but rather a "war on some drugs."
After all, Alexander and Bragaw allow for alcohol possession for
those 21 and older, and all others in possession of alcohol on campus
get little more than a slap on the wrist. This is not only
hypocritical. It is stupid, given that alcohol is the third leading
cause of death in the U.S. The No. 1 cause of death was tobacco,
which is also used widely across our campus.

The grand total for deaths cause by ALL illicit drugs (this includes
indirect deaths involving suicides, homicides and motor-vehicle
injuries, as well as HIV and hepatitis infections from shared
needles) only makes No. 12 on the list.

I'm not sure why we continue to allow the use of these DRUGS that are
killing so many of us each year, while we continue to invest so much
money into prohibition of other drugs that are much less hazardous to
both the user and those around them.

I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that the tobacco and
alcohol industries have contributed millions and millions of dollars
to various congressional and state campaigns.

Matt Potter

Junior, Political Science