Drugs

AN ADDICT IS STILL AN ADDICT

A letter writer recently alleged that children now have access to guns
because "law-abiding citizens are buying guns to protect themselves" from
gang warfare and other criminal activity resulting from drug addicts'
attempts to purchase illegal drugs.

The letter writer then suggested that, to reduce this criminal activity and
reduce the number of inmates we have to support in the prisons, the
government provide free prescriptions for addicts (presumably free
marijuana, cocaine, heroin, etc.).

He said that legalizing the dispensing of these currently "illegal" drugs
will eliminate the associated murders, extortion and other criminal acts
currently associated with the illegal drug trade.

One thing the writer failed to recognize is that the addict will still be
an addict. This addict will continue to perform under the influence of a
mind-altering substance, which will make him a menace to society.

Giving free prescriptions of these substances will not only fail to stop
the traffic accidents, assaults, suicides, rapes and murders committed
"under the influence," but they would actually open the door for defense
lawyers to claim government liability for these crimes, since the
government provided the means (free drugs).

Carolyn Abell, senior planner, Jacksonville