WARPED SENSIBILITIES

The sensible criticisms leveled by John Hieger against the D.A.R.E. program
("Get Real: Misguided drug policies ignore common sense," NEXT, Feb. 7) can
also be leveled against the billion-dollar boondoggle that is the White
House's "anti-drug media campaign." These TV and print ads, produced by the
White House drug czar's office, have put heavy emphasis on marijuana, often
wildly exaggerating the risks of a drug that has never, ever caused a fatal
overdose.

These ads have said little or nothing about the risks of far more
toxic and addictive substances, such as cocaine, methamphetamine and
alcohol. Kids could easily draw the impression from these ads that
marijuana is more dangerous than these other drugs -- and be misled
into a fatal mistake.

We owe our kids the truth. Nothing else is good enough.

Bruce Mirken , director of communications

Marijuana Policy Project, Washington, D.C.