CULTURE GIVES MESSAGE THAT DRUGS ARE QUICK FIX

It was heartbreaking to read the account of the murder trial of Tobe Smith
Jr. Both families are certainly in need of our compassion.

Speaking as a volunteer to ASAP, Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention, I'd
like to address the point made in a letter that said that Tobe Smith Jr.
"chose to use drugs."

Doesn't society play a large role, not only in the availability of drugs
but also in the acceptance of them? I recall a recent AARP TV advertisement
directed at adults with the warning that stated something like, "Don't let
advertisements tempt you to buy drugs you don't need." If adults need to be
made aware of the power of advertising, think how much help our children need.

Consider this:

Roughly 80 percent of this country's population will take some sort of
medication, whether over the counter or prescribed, during the next 24
hours. While many people are helped by drugs, do we have an environment
where drugs are commonly accepted as a quick fix for problems? If so, we
might consider that it's a very short step for a child to take a pill for
just that reason.

Then, perhaps we could think of Tobe Smith Jr. as a victim, too. Although
this doesn't excuse his tragic behavior, it could, to some degree, help to
explain it. Far too many young people like Tobe have been taken in by the
false promise of drugs to solve problems and let down by a society that is
too complacent on the subject of drug abuse.

Chris Shoaf

Salisbury