EVERYONE IS PAYING PRICE OF CRACK COCAINE

Regarding the News & Record's recent series on crack cocaine:

It is devastating to hear that people in our community are addicted to such
a nasty drug. It is sad that 70 percent of the homicides in Greensboro and
High Point are linked to crack cocaine. So is the spread of HIV/AIDS and
syphilis. We have some of the nation's highest rates because of people who
prostitute to pay for crack.

What is this world coming to?

People do not realize how bad it is, including "most of those in control of
policy," Mayor Holliday said.

We as a community need to try harder to break these horrible,
crack-infested neighborhoods. Law enforcement can only do so much; we can
help by letting people know we care.

The entire community should be more alert to what is going on in their
surroundings because we are the ones who pay. We pay higher prices at
grocery stores because crack addicts shoplift. We pay for the welfare costs.

This should not be happening. We can make a difference if we just open our
eyes to what is going on.

Lizabeth Mann

Stokesdale