Thank you for the column by Hilary Abramson, "A "war' on drugs, but
only a murmur on booze" (Opinion Page, July 31). You have pointed out
perhaps the most troubling of all drug-related problems, that this one
drug - alcohol - causes more deaths, injuries, violence and lost
potential of our young people than all other drugs combined.

All Americans, but especially parents, need to know and remember that
alcohol is indeed a drug, its use can be dangerous and prevention of
alcohol abuse must rank along side other drug-prevention efforts.

That "The Partnership for a Drug-Free America" is the advertising
agency group that originally took Big Tobacco and Big Booze money and
failed to produce one ad to discourage children from smoking or
drinking should be troubling to everyone.

You rightly pointed out that 14,000 Americans will die from illegal
drug use. However, this is but a 10-day total of the deaths due to
tobacco addiction.

Effective and enlightened national policies regarding alcohol, tobacco
and other drug use will require much greater political courage than
has been demonstrated in Washington thus far.

Edward A. Pane President and CEO Serento Gardens: Alcoholism and Drug
Services Hazleton, Pa.

Regarding the Abramson column: Odds are that any given person won't
have or cause a problem with alcohol, so why make policy on the
assumption that he or she will?

Here in San Francisco were I so inclined I could buy heroin or crack
cocaine daily in my block in the Mission. But the San Francisco Police
Department is ignoring that kind of drug trafficking and the violence
associated with its illegality.

The SFPD has just entered into a cycle of funding a year-long series
of decoy sting operations at local alcohol outlets, intimidating
proprietors, lest they lose their licenses, into demanding
identification from all regardless of age and appearance.

Why can the cops find resources to intimidate legitimate businesses
while ignoring the more risky aspects of law enforcement like busting
dealers who occupy residential neighborhoods to sell hard drugs?
Combining the chemical effects of cocaine and heroin with the
side-effects of prohibition make those drugs far more dangerous to
users and those around them than alcohol.

Marc Salomon
San Francisco