PILLS NOT THE ANSWER

As a concerned grandmother, I watched with great personal interest the Jan.
23 "Drug Wars: One Family's Battle" special on our local television
networks. Not once did I hear the cry of concern that should definitely be
addressed: the over-drugging of our youth with prescribed mind-altering
drugs.

I have watched with a broken heart the extreme changes in personality
brought about by this practice. Teachers, school counselors, psychologists
and psychiatrists must stop recommending that problems such as a lack of
attention and misbehavior in school be solved by teaching the child that
this "magic pill" will make life so much easier.

One has only to look at the statistics to see that this is at epidemic
proportions. This must be addressed, if not by parents, then by caring
family members and friends. ("It takes a village.")

Misbehavior in the schools should be a responsibility of the parents, with
strict discipline in the home and an expectation that the child will accept
responsibility for his actions. Stop now the practice of a quick fix by
allowing professionals to control your child with prescribed drugs. (In most
cases the drugs only increase behavior changes.) They must learn, with clear
minds, that this is not acceptable and that life's problems cannot, and
should not, be controlled by taking pills.

Is it not a wonder that we have a so-called "drug war"? It can go from
"prescriptions" to "street drugs" very quickly.

DOROTHY ZIEGELASCH

Eugene