BARRY MCCAFFREY

Although sharing your frustration at the hypocritical lack of consistency
in drug czar Barry R. McCaffrey's dualistic approach to alcohol and drugs
(editorial, June 16), I think that you will find that his schismatic
approach is mirrored by society. How about some of that billion dollars
being spent to educate a confused population? As it says in the literature
of one of the prominent 12-step fellowships, Narcotics Anonymous, "Alcohol
is a drug. We cannot afford to be confused about this." It is high time
that the good general, at the behest of his boss, makes a stand on this and
shows his commitment to combating drug abuse. How many more highway
tragedies do we have to read about before we learn our lesson?

Jeffrey Gershoff
Woodland Hills