IMPOSE TOUGH PUNISHMENT

The scourge of drug use and abuse continues to ravage our youth. Every day,
millions of Americans of all ages consume and use illegal drugs, and the
new way to distribute drugs such as Ecstasy on the street is to organize
and promote youth parties. The so-called raves or parties for youth are
nothing more than the modern equivalent of "opium dens." Operators of these
parties must be put out of business. Participants in those dances must be
equally punished. Parents and/or guardians must also be subjected to stiff
fines for lack of supervision that can be viewed as contributing to a
minor's drug use. It is time to get tough on drug promoters, distributors
and users. Clean-living Americans should not have to pay the tab for the
misdeeds of a few. The users should be the losers.

Louis G. Dominguez

Gainesville, Va.