THIS BUD'S FOR YOU

I agree with Arianna Huffington's distress over taxpayers footing the bill
for anti-drug ads and the connection between legal drugs and illegal drugs
[column, Jan. 4], but I think she overlooked one important aspect of the
relationship.

Legal drug manufacturers that promote pharmaceuticals, as well as alcohol
and tobacco, receive a priceless fringe benefit from the war against
illegal drugs: enhanced credibility. As illegal drugs are further
demonized, legal drugs appear in a better light.

Since marijuana, cocaine and LSD are portrayed as "unacceptable drugs" with
no redeeming qualities at at all, Prozac, Budweiser and Camel are preceived
primarily as "acceptable drugs," even when manufacturers reluctantly admit
their products can be abused.

Yes, we sould look at the ways legal drugs expose users to the illegal drug
market. But I think it's even more important to look at the ways current
drug policy exposes all of us to the shameless profiteering of legal drug
manufacturers.

Stephen Young, Roselle
By e-mail