DRUG 'ADVICE' STIRS READER'S IRE

Dear Harlan: Help me with something?

Help me to realize what makes you a qualified drug counselor?

You recently responded to a reader who had been discharged from the
military for failing a drug test.

How do you know that he is an addict in need of help?

Could he not just be a social marijuana smoker?

If you knew anything about the reality of the effects of marijuana, then
you would know that its effects are no more mind-altering than a cup of
ginseng tea or a sugary snack, much less an alcoholic beverage.

But instead of holding your tongue, you chose to browbeat someone on the
grounds of something you know nothing about.

It is people like you who keep our jails full of marijuana "criminals" and
our police too busy busting kids for smoking pot rather than catching drunk
drivers, rapists and other criminals.

You are the person who needs help - help knowing when to keep your mouth
shut on matters that it often becomes painfully obvious you know nothing about.

Instead, try offering the advice that the person should not feel ashamed.

Maybe that person should take the discharge as an opportunity to do
something else with his life, like working for social change.

In the case of Surfer, what's done is done, and instead of having him
wallowing in guilt, you might have encouraged him to make decisions for
himself, because he is the only one who knows what is best for him - not
the politicians, the Army, the churches and certainly not Harlan Cohen. - J

Dear Writer: You must either be high or strung out on sugary snacks and
ginseng tea.

Come on - the guy got fired for his drug use. Whether this screams
"PROBLEM," "ADDICTION" or "RECREATIONAL USER" - it's definitely screaming
that drugs are a serious issue for him. I'm not looking to debate the
"virtues" of marijuana with you. I was just offering advice to a guy who
asked me for it. I stick by what I wrote the first time around - he should
face the facts, face his family and face his use or abuse. What he chooses
to do is up to him.

I just know that he won't ever have to explain getting fired to his family
because of having traces of peanut M&M's and ginseng in his urine.

Dear Harlan- You seemed a little worked up in your response the other day.
When Surfer says he got caught doing drugs, you went off the deep end.

Why is it that if you try drugs, you have a "drug habit," need to "work on
your self respect," and it means you are "running from life"?

Maybe "Surfer" got bored, fell in with the wrong crowd and made a mistake.

I would think that would be a better response to the parents as well. It
sounded like "Surfer" wanted help to ease the blow to the parents, not
cause great alarm because there was a MAJOR problem.

Anyway, you just seemed stressed. I'd suggest a drink, but I don't want you
to think that would make you an alcoholic.- Steve in MN

Hi Steve: Did I really sound like that? I try to never be like "that." I
just feel strongly about the issue: Getting kicked out of the Army for
drugs is a wake-up call that needs attention. I admit that I can be intense.

Maybe I'll take your suggestion and grab a drink next weekend, and then
make arrangements to seek treatment on Monday.