ZERO TOLERANCE WORSE THAN ABUSE OF DRUGS

To the Editor:

In her thoughtful column March 18 on the failure of Drug Abuse Resistance
Education, Anna Call notes more than half of high school seniors have tried
drugs. School-based zero-tolerance policies pose a greater threat to youth
than drugs: Denying youth an education is not in America's interest.

Most teenagers outgrow their drug indiscretions. An arrest and criminal
record, on the other hand, can be life-shattering. After admitting to
smoking pot (but not inhaling), former President Bill Clinton opened
himself up to "soft on drugs" criticism. Thousands of Americans paid the
price in shattered lives: More were locked up under Clinton than any past
administration.

As an admitted former drinker and alleged drug user, President George Bush
is also politically vulnerable. While youthful indiscretions didn't stop
Clinton or Bush, an arrest surely would have. The short-term health effects
of marijuana are inconsequential compared to a criminal record. Drug abuse
is bad, but zero-tolerance is worse.

Robert Sharpe

program officer Drug Policy Alliance Arlington, Va.