USING ILLEGAL DRUGS LEADS TO MORE CRIME

Re: "Try mediation, not incarceration," June 25 Readers' Letters.

There are times when I'm amazed at the naivete of people who fail to
understand the meaning of physical and/or emotional addictions.
Neither do they understand addiction. Narcotics such as amphetamines,
methamphetamines and various opiates are both physically and
emotionally addictive. They greatly lessen a person's ability to
function properly in the workplace. This leads to loss of legal income.

The continued use of non-prescribed drugs then leads to the commission
of other crimes. Additionally they lessen the user's ability to think
and react. Who wants a person high on drugs or alcohol driving a motor
vehicle?

The writer apparently links the use of methamphetamines with those who
love to watch sports or soap operas on TV. Although I don't watch soap
operas, I know that watching sports does not drive a person to commit
felonious crimes.

Ask any trained professional law enforcement officer about the high
number of felony crimes they are aware of or investigated where the
perpetrator was attempting to get money to buy narcotics. This
includes robbery, burglary, forgery, etc.

Certainly biblical principles teach us to help our neighbor, but it
presupposes that the neighbor desires and accepts our help.

Likewise, biblical principles repeatedly mention the punishment of
those who commit crimes. Remember the two thieves who were crucified
beside Jesus?

Ron Manning, Springfield