DRUG IRRELEVANCY

How many voters really care if a presidential candidate once tried some
illegal drug? The past use of drugs by any candidate is irrelevant, as long
as the candidate is no longer impaired by such use. The real problem here is
the fact that candidates feel the need to evade the question or outright lie
about it.

Stigma attached to drug experimentation, including addiction, only defeats
any long-overdue attempts to prevent and treat this disease (recognized as
such by the American Medical Association) and every other reputable medical
organization) as just that - a disease.

Any candidate, regardless of past experimentation or addiction, could make a
brave and historic point by focusing on effective, nonjudgmental education
and access to treatment for drug problems. And much more of that focus
should be on legal drugs like alcohol and tobacco - which harm and kill many
more Americans than illegal drugs ever have.

What we really need from politicians is honesty. Former first lady Betty
Ford attained heroic status for publicly facing up to her problems in this
regard. Why can't potential presidents show such leadership?

Steve Heilig, San Francisco Medical Society, San Francisco