ILLEGAL DRUGS CAUSE IRREPARABLE HARM

It is disheartening to keep reading the old libertarian rationale for
legalizing drugs ("Drug war a failure, world leaders agree,"
Star-Advertiser, Letters, Dec. 1). Legalization proponents do not
care about the millions of families destroyed by drug use. Street
drugs lead to psychosis, often reducing users to total dependency.

It's been estimated that about 25 percent of drug users lose interest
in accomplishment and cannot hold jobs or don't want to and some turn
to crime. Many stop supporting their children. The brains of people
21 and under are still in crucial stages of development. The use of
drugs or alcohol by young people can result in a lifetime of mental illness.

We should all be strong opponents of illicit drug use because every
dollar spent keeps suppliers invested in the lifestyle and doomed to
poor education, less empowerment and little chance of improvement for
them and their children.

John Hansen

Honolulu