AGENTS MAKE THE SACRIFICES IN NATION'S `WAR ON DRUGS'

The New Orleans Times Picayune carried a piece titled "Addicts who seek
help should get it" by Ken Fuson of The Sun on Jan. 2. I write to comment
on this article.

Journalist Michael Massing, the subject of Mr. Fuson's story, knows nothing
of the drug war having not participated in it himself. He can read all of
the boxes of federal archives he wishes and see all of the heroin addicts
in New York City shoot up, and he will still not get it.

I resent Mr. Massing's referring to treatment workers as having engaged in
a heroic struggle. It is the agents all across the country who put their
lives on the line who are the heroes.

Mr. Massing, like so many other liberals, refers to $17 billion dedicated
to the drug war. This is hogwash.

The Drug Enforcement Administration's budget and that of the Federal Bureau
of Investigation dedicated to the so-called drug war does not exceed $1.6
billion.

All of the other money attributed to it is used by other agencies
performing their primary mission while efforts toward drug fighting are
secondary.

It is ridiculous to believe that education is the route to go in
eradicating drug use. What would Mr. Massing have the country do -- stop
all enforcement efforts and let anyone bring drugs into the country and let
the population become addicts before undoing -- through treatment --
something that should never have occurred in the first place?

Joseph I. Molyneux Metairie, La.

The writer is a former Drug Enforcement Administration special agent in
Louisiana.