END DRUG WAR, SAVE LIVES

Reading in "Mexico drug war claims three lives" (March 15) that "three
people were killed in a drug-plagued Mexican city, including a U.S.
couple shot within sight of the border with their baby in their back
seat" was a frustrating experience for me, raising my ire. Bottom
line: When will the United States simply admit that legalization of
drugs for recreational use will really be the most effective way to
end such violence?

My stance is not pro-use. To the contrary, I am a clinician at a
detox facility, have three years recovery from alcoholism, and do not
condone nor encourage the use of substances, for any reason, other
than those guided by a medical professional. Nevertheless, I have
believed strongly for a number of years in giving the pink-slip to the
black-market business-people, from cartel leaders to street dealers.

A modest proposal: sell drugs and paraphernalia at the pharmacy
(heroin, cocaine, pipes, needles), tax the you-know-what out of them,
and let Afghanistan become competitive with their now-legit
businesses of poppy production.

I completely expect the (understandable) reaction that such a measure
would create public health issues as new addicts begin to seek
treatment. I also expect opinions as to how this proposal may affect
the federal tax system. Additionally, I understand the reaction that
such a measure would encourage children to use substances
recreationally. These concerns are legitimate. At the same time,
let's look at my admittedly subjective perspective.

Obviously, prohibition of alcohol failed and America now has many
active alcoholics who buy their alcohol in heavily-regulated stores
which are licensed for this specifically. And yes; alcoholism is a
major public-health concern. Still, I must ask, are bootleggers still
getting killed for transporting it? Are people still drinking and
dying from the questionable, often poisonous mixtures in the
speakeasies of the 20s?

I agree - the media, whether it admits to it or not, actively and
cunningly markets alcohol to adolescents, with predictable and
negative results, including death. And that's scary. Still, alcohol
abuse, as they say, started as soon as man first crushed grapes. As
stated in the book "Drugs Across the Spectrum" by Raymond Goldberg,
"alcohol consumption reached its peak in the early 1800s Americans
during that time period probably consumed three times as much alcohol
as do Americans todayand [regarding Prohibition], [this] amendment was
repealed in 1933 because the consequences of alcohol use generally
were seen as less harmful than the ban on alcohol." I believe that
such pros and cons exist today. Killings and violence related to the
manufacture and transport of recreational substances, as well as
territory disputes and legally-motivated violence would greatly
diminish, if not stop altogether. Cigarettes can be seen as such an
example: I would venture to say everybody understands the health
risks involved in smoking cigarettes. Again, to quote Goldberg,
"Cigarette smoking is one of the leading preventable causes of
disability and death in the United States." The United States has
taken the inherent risks of legalizing (or at least
not-criminalizing), and regulating, this addictive, and dangerous
substance; in turn, American society has become armed with a new,
fact-based knowledge of its risks.

Of course, the inherent health risks of any substance existed before
legalization and will continue afterwards. Heroin will still be
addictive and withdrawal will still be painful. Methamphetamine will
still rot your body and soul.

I provide therapy to teenagers who suffer from substance-abuse and
dependence issues such heroin addiction, Oxycontin addiction,
Percocet addiction, cocaine addiction, alcohol addiction, marijuana
addiction, among others. Will kids (and adults) still become addicted
if legalization occurs? Of course. Will death or paralysis due to car
accidents and accidental overdoses continue to occur? Unfortunately
yes. Will society find new, evil marketing niches? Undoubtedly. Will
this marketing increase use by young people? Very likely. Will it
make society more aware of treatment options and preventative
measures? Hopefully. Will it prevent the needless deaths of
manufacturers, transporters and families with babies in their back
seats? I truly believe so.