LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

DOWN AND OUT IN S.F.

Donna M. Lane's article, "The down and out: Crack addicts buy pity and sell
hello" (Opinion Page, Dec. 28), was a heartfelt account of the reality of
our drug problem. It clearly displayed that our "drug-war" policy is
completely out of context with the problem it is intended to solve. Instead
of police, prisons and prohibition, we need education, housing and treatment.

Not only do our wartime tactics prevent us from helping people who are
"down and out," they further prevent them from getting back up. While
insisting that our drug problem needs to be fought and not helped, we
refuse to allow the housing and treatment that can actually solve the
drug-abuse problem. Rather, our policy dictates to have them arrested.

When will we understand that only when we wage a war for education, or
against poverty and homelessness, will we finally be capable of putting a
dent in drug abuse? Only a different drug policy would finally eliminate
the black market that necessitates guns, violence and corruption.

We need to view our drug problem with compassion, not blame and hatred.
Only then will we be able to minimize the damage done by drugs to our
society.

Joel W. Johnson
San Jose
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Donna Lane's article is a poignant testimonial to a city that spends tens
of millions of dollars refurbishing a City Hall to fit a mayor's inflated
ego while the no-man's land around it becomes a carnival of human misery.

Max Tomlinson
San Francisco

©1998 San Francisco Examiner