EFFECTIVE WAYS TO FIGHT DRUGS

Congratulations to John Donnelly for a great article on the status of
the drug abuse problem in the United States ("US report details
losses in drug fight," Page A1, Jan. 4). Reports like the one
mentioned in the article prove once again that when it comes to
Americans and drugs, there is no silver bullet.

There are, however, some things communities ran do. Studies suggest
that when emergency rooms do a better job at screening for drug
problems, people are referred to treatment that can help them gain
control over their lives. Other studies suggest that when primary
caregivers provide screenings and offer brief interventions for drug
and alcohol abusers, they acquire tools that helps them quit using or
substantially cut back their use.