DRUG GROUP PROMOTES DANGEROUS POLICIES

Your editorial on Marsha Rosenbaum of the Drug Policy Alliance betrays a
lack of information as to what is going on today in the field of substance
abuse prevention ("Teens need better advice about drug use than 'Just Say
No,'" Star-Bulletin, Nov. 28).

There is a large and growing body of social science research on what works
and what does not in prevention. The prevention field advanced years ago
from the scare tactics and "just say no" approaches that Rosenbaum
denounces. A variety of research-based prevention programs is available to
schools and communities that seek to shield youth from the dangers of drugs
and alcohol.

The Drug Policy Alliance is selling a pro-drug-legalization political
agenda. It advocates "harm reduction," an approach that assumes that people
will always use drugs so we should educate them to use drugs safely. How one
uses crystal methamphetamine or crack cocaine safely, it does not say. The
DPA talks about "justice" and "compassion," but it is peddling dangerous
policies. The Department of Education should have better things to do than
provide it with a forum.

Ray Gagner

Kailua