Regarding the editorial ``A major florida focus on drug use'' (Feb.
10): The editorial states, ``Drug use is not a victimless crime.
Besides the horrific physical and emotional damage illegal drugs do to
the individual and his or her family, the addiction almost invariably
leads to crime.''

This statement overlooks the fact that the great majority of instances
of drug use are victimless, since they cause little or no damage nor
addiction nor crime.

A similar situation exists with alcohol: If one simply looks at skid
row alcoholics and those admitted to hospitals with alcohol-related
problems, then alcohol becomes a killer and a crime producer. Ignoring
the truth about drug use would be the equivalent of ignoring the great
majority who use alcohol responsibly. If it is more difficult to use
illicit drugs ``responsibly,'' this is a function not of the drugs but
of their prohibition.

Peter Webster
Note: The writer is the review editor for International Journal of Drug

Policy, the official journal of the International Harm
Reduction

Association.