HONESTY ABOUT DRUGS

To the Editor:

Tom Schlafly (letter, June 15) suggests that having a glass of wine is not
as dangerous as shooting up heroin or smoking crack. Yet as far as young
people are concerned, the Office of National Drug Control Policy has cited
alcohol as the most important "gateway" drug for youths who turn to harder
and more dangerous substances.

Yet the Government's anti-drug campaign media campaign will say nothing
about alcohol's dangers to young people. It says the basic message should
be that children should avoid illegal drugs. The Partnership for a
Drug-Free America, which has been working on the campaign, also opposes
including an anti-alcohol message. There are many people who feel that our
children deserve the facts about all drug use, not just limited and
exaggerated messages.

STEPHEN S. HEATH
Largo, Fla.