SENDING THE WRONG MESSAGE

To the editor:

It is not only shortsighted but also foolish and stupid to attempt to
find solutions to our nation's drug-abuse problem by legalizing and
controlling illicit drug use.

New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson is not zeroing in on the root causes of
drug use. Drug abusers need a good education, a decent job and
treatment facilities to address and prevent future drug abuse.

Legalizing heroin, cocaine and marijuana sends the wrong message to
our youth: that it's OK to try such drugs. I have seen the end result
of drug abuse in the emergency departments of northern New Mexico.
Gov. Johnson seems to have given this problem little thought. ---

KEN BRANDIS, M.D.
Tucson, AZ