TAX FUNDS WASTED ON THE DRUG WAR

In regard to the editorial, "Controversial research draws budget concerns,"
about the NIH study regarding methamphetamine and HIV, I think it's obvious
what the government is really trying to do (CT, Oct. 11). The government
needs a constant flow of research to fuel the propaganda machine of the Drug
War, and the NIH/NIDA is their tool to provide this fuel.

The government has a big motivation to escalate the Drug War, since only
"demon drugs" could justify the erosion of civil rights that the Drug War
has brought.

Its interesting to see the other forces behind the Drug War, since it isn't
only the Government that is benefiting from the War on Drugs. "The Nation,"
a magazine of investigative journalism, delved into the people of a
Partnership for a Drug Free America.

A probe by The Nation March 9, 1992, revealed that the partnership had
accepted $5.4 million in contributions from legal drug manufacturers, while
producing advertisements that overlooked the dangers of tobacco, alcohol and
(legal) pills. This drug free crusade is actually a silent partner to the
drug industry, condoning the use of "good drugs" by targeting only the "bad"
ones.

The partnership's funders are usually kept secret, but investigation by The
Nation revealed that from 1988 to 1991, pharmaceutical companies and their
beneficiaries contributed greatly.

The PDFA claims now that they no longer accept money from alcohol or tobacco
interests, but that means they are still accepting money from the legal drug
dealers, the pharmaceutical companies.

So what's the bottom line? The Drug War is set up to benefit certain
corporate interests and the government. It's time to demand an end to this
current Drug War philosophy, and instead focus on reducing the harm that
recreational drugs might cause if misused, rather than searching for
justification of their punitive and corporate protectionist policies.