PRESCRIPTION DRUG PROBLEMS FAR EXCEED THE ILLEGAL ONES

Our country does have problems with illegal drugs, and our attempts to fix
the problems have been totally unsuccessful. These problems, however, pale
in the face of the much greater prescription drug fiasco which is only
separated by different cartels, pushers and a more accepting society. The
consumers are the same and vulnerable for the same reasons.

It is obvious that our legislative groups are relatively impotent in
dealing with either the prescription or the illegal drug problems and for
essentially the same reasons. All are afraid to confront the issues. We use
the war on illegal drugs to support the addicted and protect sick political
countries. We attempt to relate to prescription drug overuse without proper
controls for the drug companies, the over-prescribing physicians or the
drug dependent patients.

The United States is a very drug-dependent country and the situation will
not likely change until it is illegal to be dependent upon an illegal drug.
Drug manufacturers are unable to advertise prescription drugs directly to
the public and physicians have a very strict review board for the use of
prescription medications. I have little faith that our governing bodies
will do more than posture on these issues.

Don Boone,

Asheville