FIGHT ILLEGAL DRUGS, NOT TOBACCO USE

I am sick to death of hearing about victims of smoking. What about the
victims of drugs? If all of the attention given to the anti-smoking
campaign in Maryland were to be redirected to an anti-drug campaign,
Maryland would be a drug-free state ("'Smoking stops here' starting today,
state officials declare," July 12).

Drugs do more harm to our state than tobacco. So let's take the state's
tobacco settlement money -- all $4 billion -- and use it to eliminate
illegal drugs.

Focus on the real issues. Drugs are illegal. Drugs are debilitating. Drugs
contribute to crime and murder. Drugs break up families. Innocent children
are being killed because of illegal drugs.

What will it take for Maryland to wake up and smell the crack cocaine and
leave tobacco smoking up to individuals?

Drema Wolfe

Baltimore