Source: Los Angeles Times Letters
Contact:letters@latimes.com

Teen Drug Use

"'More Than Just Saying No," editorial, Aug. 19:

It has been estimated that this socalled "war on drugs"
now costs us a total of $40 billion per year. This total includes
federal, state and local costs, both at home and abroad for federal
interdiction, local policing and for the justice and penal system. And
for this amount, teen drug use increased 118% in just three years.
When are those of us who are paying for this failed policy going
to demand that this substantial amount of money be spent on
education and treatment versus criminalization and punishment?

JIM HARRIGAN

Copyright Los Angeles Times