TELL TRUTH ABOUT DRUGS

Re: "Time to Talk About Drugs," Tuesday Editorials.

Yes, Red Ribbons are reminders to be frank with kids, and parents
should explain the concept of supply and demand.

They can understand that "Kiki" Camarena died from prohibition, not
from drugs. Prohibition is the futile attempt to overcome the law of
supply and demand with another law that will no more work than one to
repeal gravity.

The young can hear that the dangers from drugs are real, but that
legal drugs account for more than 90 percent of drug deaths and
addiction, not because they are legal but dangerous.

That the teens selling illegal drugs in and around their schools are
there because prohibition tempts them and makes them cannon fodder for
the drug lords.

They will learn that they can protect themselves from drug abuse
through responsible choices without government help but that they
often cannot protect themselves from the crime, violence and
corruption that government foists on them through the false god,
prohibition.

Jerry Epstein, Drug Policy Forum of Texas, Houston