'IRRESPONSIBLE' COMMENTARY

The article by Patricia Pearson is one of the most irresponsible
articles to ever appear on USA TODAY's editorial pages.

Did I miss something recently? Aren't the drugs referred to in this
article illegal for everyone in the United States? Don't we have a
nationwide campaign to reduce drug use in this country, especially
among children?

It might not be surprising to find flagrant advertising for
"recreational" drug use in an underground paper, but not USA TODAY.

Jim Webster
Arroyo Grande, Calif.

IGNORANCE ABOUT ADDICTION

I am constantly amazed at the level of ignorance expressed by
otherwise intelligent people when it comes to drugs and/or alcohol. In
Patricia Pearson's article, this ignorance has been given voice once
more.

She claims that ''the difference between self-abuse and recreational
pot smoking is so widely and tacitly understood that only . . .
'experts' '' miss the point. The fact is that pot smoking is no less
dangerous to someone suffering an addictive illness than heroin or
crack cocaine.

Pearson's claim that ''you never see a 'pot addict' who drains his
life savings to feed the habit'' indicates that she has not looked too
hard. As someone who suffers from an addictive illness, I see such
people all of the time. Neither are they few and far between.

Pearson also claims that ''pot is like alcohol: People undone by it
usually are trying to undo themselves because something in their lives
is too painful.'' Would she make the same claim about someone
suffering from diabetes or cancer? Do these sufferers ''undo
themselves'' as well?

I sometimes find it difficult to believe that even as this century
draws to a close, so many still passionately cling to antiquated ideas
about drugs and alcohol, ideas that are in complete opposition to that
which is accepted by medical science. Politicians who use this topic
for political gain exacerbate such misunderstanding.

The facts seem to be these: There are people who suffer from addictive
illnesses. For many of them, any drug and/or alcohol is extremely
dangerous. Then, there is the rest of society. For these folks, most
drugs and/or alcohol are fairly safe when used responsibly.

Perhaps it would be more appropriate to educate our children about
addictive illnesses and their symptoms, rather than categorically
state that one drug is safe, while another is not. The safety of a
recreational drug is far more dependent upon the health of the person
taking it.

Robert W. DeStefano
Pontiets, Wales