WILL WE LEARN?

I'm writing about: "Meth Alert" (7-01-03). During the1960's I worked at a U. S.
Navy shipyard and several of my co-workers used amphetamines known as "whites"
or "mini-bennies." When these products were taken off the market and made
illegal, meth was re-born.

Today's meth labs are similar to the illegal distilleries of the era known as
the "Noble Experiment." During our alcohol prohibition era, thousands died and
thousands went blind or were crippled for life from what was then known as
"bathtub gin."

Like the meth of today, the "bathtub gin" was easily made from household and
industrial products. Like the meth of today, the "bathtub gin" was a product
created by prohibition. Like the meth of today, illegal alcohol could be
produced just about anywhere.

Like the meth of today, Prohibition-era alcohol was of unknown quality, potency
and purity.

When alcohol prohibition ended in 1933, almost 100 percent of the "bathtub gin"
producers went out of business for economic reasons and have stayed out of the
business for economic reasons.

When alcohol prohibition ended in 1933, the U.S. murder rate declined for 10
consecutive years. Have we learned any lessons?

Not yet!

Kirk Muse

Mesa, Ariz.