INTERVENTION IS A MUST

RE: "Forced drug treatment for kids not the answer," by Mindelle
Jacobs, March 23.

I am a parent of a child addicted to crystal-meth and I can tell you
from first hand experience that living with a child caught in this web
is sheer hell. Jacobs suggests that removing a teen from their
environment may be detrimental. Let me assure that a child addicted to
meth has no normal environment. They become paranoid and frightened
and relate only to other meth heads and then only to obtain more
drugs. Intervention with these children is a must. A child who starts
drinking or smoking pot (gateway drugs) at the age of 10 or 11 and
then starts doing heavier drugs maintains the maturity of a 10- or
11-year-old. They cannot possibly be strong enough or mature enough to
decide to give up one of the most addictive drugs on our streets today.

M. Talbot

(Fair comment.)