GUARD BUST SHOWS DRUG WAR'S FAILURE

Your Oct. 25 article "Prison guard jailed for smuggling pot" describes how
one guard was caught by the Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Drug Task Force that
is "...working to crack down on drug trade behind bars." In addition, one
task force agent believed "There are likely other guards smuggling drugs
into the facility ... you always hear inmates talk about it." The prison
superintendent said, "You're not going to have a prison that's air tight."

If authorities are unable to control illegal drug use inside prison, where
inmates have no freedom, does anyone reasonably expect that the "War on
Drugs" can ever be won in our free society? I don't think so.

Alcohol prohibition failed for the same reason. We ought to use common
sense and regulate drugs the same way we regulate alcohol, and put the
resources we pour into the War on Drugs into treatment programs for those
addicts who want to kick their habits.

JOHN SAMS, Tyner