BUSTING THE STEREOTYPE OF DRUG USERS

Your article on typical drug "abuse" ("True face of drug use," Sept. 9)
points out some interesting facts, as well as exploding a plethora of
prohibitionist myths about society's so-called "druggie" (arguably the '90s
equivalent of the "N" word, utilized to stereotype a group of citizens).

Not only are casual users mostly marijuana users, they are young white
males in their early 20s (youthful indiscretions?). It's also interesting
to note while white males make up approximately 30 percent of Dallas'
population, drug arrests for whites overall are tiny compared to citizens
of color for cocaine.

Do we need $50 billion a year in resources targeted to imprison functioning
workers?

As a businessman alleged to be in the thick of the "problem" (we have a
catering service with fewer than 25 employees), I have a simple workplace
policy. Employees are judged by how they perform on the site, and it is
none of my business what they do while away from the workplace.

Alcohol and tobacco are forbidden at work. Even though the study neglected
to analyze the devastating cost of these arguably more dangerous substances
in the workplace, the rationale is an employee who may have had marijuana
on break is more likely to rationally deal with an irate patron than an
employee who was drunk on legal whiskey.

RICK D. DAY
President, Dallas BBQ, Dallas