FLAWED ANTI-DRUG CAMPAIGN IS WORSE THAN USELESS

Nancy Phillis is simply wrong when she says that doing
anything to prevent drug use by children is never a bad idea.

If she will read some of the history of our drug laws in this country,
she will find a very surprising fact. Historically speaking, the
single biggest cause of drug epidemics among children is hysterical,
ill-thought anti-drug campaigns. The first was the huge teen drinking
epidemic during alcohol Prohibition. Other drug epidemics triggered by
anti-drug campaigns included LSD, speed and glue sniffing.

As one example, I recall my very first drug education class in school.
As we left the class a friend turned to me and said, "Wow! If drugs
are that bad and people still take them, then they must really feel
great!"

His logic was perfect, of course, and he promptly went out looking for
them, and found them. That was the first time that illegal drugs came
to our school, and the school drug counselors get full credit.

It isn't good enough to do just any drug education for kids. It has to
be proven education with proven results -- and that excludes DARE.

CLIFFORD SCHAFFER

Agua Dulce, Calif.