DRUG SUPPLY MEETS DEMAND

I'm writing about Robert Novak's thoughtful column: ''Hyde fights
Colombia Drugs" Aug. 18]. If our anti-drug efforts in Colombia had
exceeded expectations, and all opium in Colombia were eliminated, the
supply of heroin in the United States would not be affected.

As long as heroin or any other drugs are demanded here in the United
States and we are willing to pay a substantial price for them,
somebody will produce the drugs and somebody will get the drugs to the
willing buyers. Guaranteed.

No matter how much money we throw down the phony drug-war rathole, the
basic economic law of supply and demand cannot be broken or nullified.

Kirk Muse,

Mesa, Ariz.