DRUGS RUIN ALL OUR LIVES

THE ISSUE

Illegal Drugs Are A Scourge On Society.

OUR VIEW

We Must Never Give Up The Fight Against Them.

There are people who say that illicit drug use should be legal. People
should be able to use drugs like heroin and cocaine freely, they say.
Users hurt no one but themselves, the argument goes. Drug use is a
victimless crime.

Tell that to the people of Newport, N.H., where police say several dozen
formerly hardworking citizens were ensnared into a life of heroin use by a
drugdealing Lawrence family.

Tell that to the homeless and hungry who rely on Lazarus House for food and
shelter. Police say a Lawrence cocaine dealer who had $90,000 in cash
stashed at home and $1,000 in his pocket stood in line three times for free
Thanksgiving turkeys and food.

Tell it to the citizens of Lawrence, who have seen their proud city saddled
with a reputation as the place New England's junkies go to get their fixes.

The truth is that drugs debase society and degrade individuals. We are all
victims of the "victimless" scourge of drugs.

In Lawrence, police say three brothers, Elody, Yorkis and Galdy Ramirez,
led a cocaineselling ring that reached throughout the area. Elody and
Yorkis Ramirez were arrested last week. Galdy Ramirez is still being sought.

Police found 5.5 pounds of cocaine with a street value of $500,000 and more
than $90,000 in cash. Yet when he was arrested, Yorkis Ramirez was
unloading a large box of food from his car after his third trip to Lazarus
House. Police found the kitchen of his home stuffed with free food
intended for the poor.

In Newport, N.H., police say people who bought heroin from accused Lawrence
dealers Lidia Nunez and her sons lost their jobs, homes, businesses and
cars. They are people like Jeffrey and Brenda Perry of nearby Croydon, who
rented space in their home to Ms. Nunez' sons for drug dealing. The Perrys
have lost their home and landscaping business. Mr. Perry is serving at
least 71/2 years in prison. Mrs. Perry is awaiting trial on a heroin
possession charge.

No one forces the first needles into the arms of drug users. They are
responsible for their own fates. But once they gave in, they added
themselves, their families and their communities to the list of victims of
drug abuse.

The way to stop being a victim of drugs is to fight their presence in our
society. We must support the fight of law enforcement officials against
drugs. We must not tolerate them in our schools, clubs, homes and circles
of friends. We must never allow the use of illicit drugs to be legal or
acceptable in our society.