SOCIETAL BURDENS

Legalizing Drugs Would Unleash Problems

James E. Dunn [letter, July 20, "Legalizing drugs would cut costs, crime"]
asked: "Is there really any good and realistic reason why we don't legalize
these drugs, and then have the government sell them to anyone 21 and
older?" The answer is yes, and I would be glad to list a few.

Allowing anyone older than 21 to purchase these drugs would open up the
drug trade to everyone. The suppliers today are mostly older than 21, and
it would just make things easier for this scum of humanity who supply drugs
to our children.

Legalization is a self-deceptive strategy, purporting to solve a problem by
defining it away: just make it legal and it will disappear. But will it?
Increasing the availability and social acceptance of drugs not only
condones but inevitably increases drug use. The demand for drugs would
climb as the market price fell.

We need only to look at the past to see what happens when something that is
illegal suddenly becomes legal. With repeal of the 18th Amendment in 1933,
the demand for alcohol soared out of sight - almost doubled in the first
year. If any evidence is needed, let's look at the results of the two legal
drugs on the market today. Tobacco and alcohol are the leading causes of
preventable deaths in the United States, costing the nation more than all
illegal drugs put together.

Should we add another dozen poisons to the market? Could we really afford
the destructive effect it would have on our society, not in just a monetary
sense but in the human suffering? Since the major costs of drug abuse are
not law enforcement, but health, safety and productivity cost, making drugs
more available increases society's burden.

Those who think legalization will reduce crime may be kidding themselves.
There is evidence to support the fact that increased drug use may
ultimately lead to more violent crime. These mind-altering drugs lead to
very irrational behavior. If we think that "driving under the influence" is
a problem today, what could we expect with additional "substance" users on
the highways? Giving in to the criminal element of this country is no solution.

Finally, is it morally right to make such dangerous drugs freely available
to the public? What kind of signal would we be sending to the youth of this
country?

Proponents of legalization should remember that drugs are not bad because
they are illegal, but they are illegal because they are bad. The writer
lives in North Myrtle Beach.