NO EASY ANSWERS TO FIGHTING DRUG PROBLEM

To the Editor:

While the Metro police might celebrate the fact that the cocaine
supply is down in Nashville, they're faced with an inescapable
economic reality.

Tighter supplies drive up prices, as police spokesman Don Aaron
acknowledged has been the case, and higher prices will draw more
suppliers to the area hoping to make a bigger profit ("Supply of
cocaine shrinks in Nashville," Sept. 14).

So, as Aaron might see the tight supply as a good thing, it's a
short-sighted celebration. In the long term, the potential for greater
profit is likely to see an increase in cocaine's availability in Nashville.

And unfortunately, unlike with other commodities on the open and legal
markets, suppliers in the drug market invariably bring violence and
crime in a struggle to gain market share.

This is an unfortunate, and maybe irresolvable, dichotomy. Do we get
more stringent in drug enforcement and risk escalating crime and
violence from those involved in the drug trade, or do we ease
enforcement to lower the profit potential of dealing drugs?

I say this only to point out that there are no easy answers to this
issue, and gleefully touting a tightening cocaine supply is being too
simplistic and not giving all facets of the issue due
consideration.

Todd Adams