MORE DRUG EDUCATION IS NEEDED

To the editor:

"Legalizing" illicit drugs, as has been suggested in a previous letter,
would certainly increase drug dependence and addiction.

That is the very reason such drugs were regulated (outlawed) in 1928 and
other years. We humans are creatures of habit, easily become "addicted"
even to ordinary things (chocolate, caffeine, potato chips), and find that
quitting such innocuous chemicals is difficult.

Alcohol, tobacco and addictive drugs will eventually kill, and during the
process will create a drain on the finances of the family, friends, and
medical community.

The other problem is whenever our national Congress decides to vote on a
bill or amendment to "legalize" drugs, guess who will show up to "lobby"
our congressmen and senators with "suitcases full of $100 bills" with
instructions to "vote against this bill or you and your family will die
tonight?"

The drug cartel is much bigger and vicious than just Colombia, South
America. The cartel is worldwide and includes the United States.

Is there a solution?

Perhaps, if we can educate our people well, treat those with addiction
problems, enforce the laws. Either way, legal or not, we'll have drug
users, pushers, jails full of drug violators. We'll have more addicts with
legalized drug use and a severe drain on our economy.

It's a difficult choice to make, but it's best to choose the least of two
evils.

William W. McGraw,

Greenville