SCARING YOUTH AWAY FROM DRUGS DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK

Re: "No easy answer to problem of addiction," column, Friday, Sept. 1.

Mike Rogozinski suggested that when educating our children about the
dangers of drug use we "make sure our discussions are so frightening
that their impressionable minds fear drugs as the horrifying monsters
they truly are."

We have reduced tobacco smoking by teaching children about the actual
risks and harmful effects of tobacco. However, attempts to frighten
youth away from unregulated drugs by emphasizing and exaggerating the
dangers have been counter-productive for generations.

The war on drugs has made matters worse by making drugs more prevalent
and profitable. We have abdicated drug control to criminals who sell
drugs of unknown potency, purity and origin, on commission, to anyone
of any age, anytime, anywhere, no questions asked.

Teens consistently report that the so-called "controlled drugs and
substances" are easier to obtain than alcohol and tobacco. Adults
wishing to obtain cannabis, for medicinal purposes, would be
well-advised to approach an adolescent relative or
acquaintance.

Parents need a fall-back strategy for children who fail to accept, or
who are intrigued by, tales of horrifying monsters. We have sex
education for when abstinence fails, but fear, ignorance, ideology,
politics and pseudo-science handicap our drug curriculum.

Pragmatic parents with observant, skeptical, intelligent children
should look into Safety First: A Reality-Based Approach to Teens,
Drugs and Drug Education, available online at www.safety1st.org/.

MATTHEW M. ELROD

Victoria