DRUG ADDICTS ARE VICTIMS WHO DESERVE OUR COMPASSION, NOT PUNISHMENT

The war on drugs is a war of common sense and human decency.

The side effects of this war against drugs is the destruction of the
physical and financial health of our families. Northeastern Pennsylvania is
being torn apart with innocent children becoming addicted and then
resorting to drug-dealing to support their habit.

The public has been largely misled into believing that it is the "addict"
who is the problem when, in reality, the addict is the victim of slick
marketing to trap our young people into being fund-raisers for terrorism
and organized crime.

People are finding that their opinions quickly change when it's their child
or family member who becomes addicted and is no longer the considerate
person they once knew. Then things get worse when they can't find help and
a safe place to stay, but the criminal justice system is available, with
its inhumane protocols, to prosecute your child and lock him/her up.

War is the opposite of love, whether it's a war in Afghanistan or the war
on drugs. Therefore, love is the only cure. While Lackawanna County is
emerging with more humane, compassionate handling of drug offenders,
Luzerne County is still incarcerating the problem to death. These victims
of addiction aren't offenders at all, but pawns of a money-making machine
whose income depends upon hooking children on drugs or any other addictive
substance. This illegal drug economy now represents 8 percent of the
world's business.

It is with this knowledge that the Citizens' Drug Policy Forum of
Northeastern Pa. has been formed with the ultimate goals of protecting our
children and giving drug addiction no reason to exist. This group is
comprised of local people from all walks of life, joined in a common bond
to make our area safe for all children. You can find more about our group,
which works through the Peace Center, by calling 287-7620 or attending our
meetings at First Presbyterian Church, 97 S. Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre.

I believe that there is not one of us who would behave responsibly if we
became addicted to a drug and had no way of getting the money to pay for
our drugs.

People who are addicted are human beings and deserving of respect, dignity
and compassion, not ridicule and punishment for being victimized. Punishing
an addicted person by incarceration makes as much sense as punishing a
person with cancer until he gets well.

Bob Butts

Moosic