PUNISHING ADDICTS STIFLES TREATMENT

The manslaughter charge against a Carroll County woman accused of supplying
a prescription drug to a heroin-using relative (who ultimately died of an
overdose) reaffirms a bad situation ("Woman charged in drug death of
nephew," July 17).

Drug users are reluctant to seek medical attention for fellow users for
fear of being charged with a crime. I think it's safe to say that turnout
at Alcoholics Anonymous meetings would be rather low if alcoholism were a
crime pursued with zero-tolerance zeal.

The tough-on-some-drugs approach compels problem users of illegal drugs to
suffer in silence. Eliminating the stigma and penalties associated with
illicit drug addiction would encourage the type of honest discussion
necessary to facilitate rehabilitation and save lives.

Robert Sharpe,
Washington

The writer is a program officer for the Drug Policy Alliance.