LEGALIZING DRUGS WOULD BE A MISTAKE

Regarding the May 7 letter by Adam Breckenridge, "Drugs will do less damage
if made legal": It's not the illegalization of drugs that's destroying
America, it's the deterioration of morals, values and standards.

Because we don't hold certain values and morals important anymore, it's
usual to see so many dysfunctional families in our society. Drug use is a
symptom of these ills, not the cause.

People are always going to have a desire for and addiction to illegal drugs.
But it's crucial that we keep illegalization laws in place; they serve as a
deterrent.

Making drugs legal wouldn't solve any problems. The reason for most of the
crime connected with drugs is that people need money. Drugs would still cost
money and people would still commit crimes to pay for them. Usage would
increase because they'd be available to more people, their accessibility
would make them more tempting. What's the result? Taxpayers would end up
having to mop up these drug users' mess.

There's a reason why the belief that drug use is bad is widely popular.
Drugs hurt people. How is it less damaging to have these drugs -- which
significantly harm not only the user but his family, friends and numerous
other people as well -- widely available to society?

Joy Wright

10th grade, Wheeler AAF