WAR ON DRUGS IS BAD

Regarding Joyanne Pursaga's Jan. 13 column, drug users are routinely
held responsible for the overdoses of fellow users in the United
States, with deadly results.

Illegal drug users are reluctant to seek medical attention for fear of
being charged with a crime. Attempting to save the life of a friend
could result in a murder charge. Overzealous drug war enforcement
results in easily preventable deaths.

Rehabilitation is also confounded. I think it's safe to say that
turnout at Alcoholics Anonymous meetings would be rather low if
alcoholism were a crime pursued with zero-tolerance zeal.

Eliminating the penalties associated with illicit drug use would
encourage the type of honest discussion necessary to facilitate
rehabilitation and save lives. Drug abuse is bad, but the drug war is
worse.

Robert Sharpe,

Common Sense for Drug Policy,

Washington, DC