LEGALIZATION COULD HELP ADDRESS DRUG ADDICTIONS

In response to James Zirin's Dec. 29 article, "Anti-drug policy must target
demand":

Man has searched for cures for all kinds of ills throughout time. Drugs
have also been used in religious ceremonies, as well. As long as there are
ills -- mental, physical and psychological -- we are going to demand drugs,
and not just the legal kind.

Until we legalize drugs, we cannot take away the stigma of addiction. Not
all addicts are what the majority of society thinks they are. Many lead
very productive, although very hard, lives. One of the difficulties of the
latter is the secrecy needed to hide your addiction because of the stigma.
This alone stops the addict from getting the help needed to quit, even
though that is what he or she desires.

Only through legalization can you target the population through ads.
Addiction needs to be talked about.

The campaign to get people to quit smoking has been working quite well,
even before abolishing smoking in bars. If drugs were legalized and the
stigma taken away, there would be a greater chance of success in curbing
demand.

Lori Curione, Watervliet