To the Editor:

Americans have watched as the drug war eroded civil liberties,
expanded prison populations and allowed thousands to become infected
with H.I.V. Now it seems we can add poisoned crops and sick Colombian
children to the drug war's "collateral damage" (front page, May 1).

Pesticide spraying in Colombia, a grave threat to human and
environmental health, will not advance peace or solve America's drug
problems. It further impoverishes and destabilizes communities and
drives illicit crops to other areas.

Poverty and a virtually inexhaustible supply of land guarantee
production of cocaine as long as people around the world desire it.
The United States should dedicate its resources to drug treatment at
home and to building an infrastructure of peace in Colombia through
economic development and democratic institutions.

Matthew Briggs
New York

The writer is a research associate at the Lindesmith Center, a drug
policy group.