ROOT CAUSE OF DRUG ABUSE NEEDS ANALYZING

To the Editor:

The Tennessean published a story May 30 in which Charlie Chase identified
drugs as part of the "root cause" of his teen-aged son's criminal
activities. I agree and sympathize with him, so let's analyze the "root
cause" of drug use itself.

Our police department apparently does an admirable job of apprehending drug
dealers and users, but our revolving door criminal justice (or sympathy?)
system renders their efforts meaningless.

The sentences that drug pushers receive should be severe and fully served
yet, in reality, they are neither. Keeping these predators off the streets
would prevent them from seeking out and exploiting any new prey.

As for habitual drug users, how can they be motivated to get off drugs when
the courts are so consistently lenient with them? As it now stands, addicts
have no incentive to change.

We have clearly lost the war on drugs, so let's add up the casualties. How
many injuries and deaths have been caused by drug-impaired drivers? How
many people have been injured or killed during home and business robberies
which were committed by addicts desperate for drug money?

How much extra are we all paying for medical insurance to cover the cost of
those confined to a drug treatment facility? How many families are dealing
with physical violence and/or financial devastation brought about by drug
abuse? How many children are being neglected right now because they have
drug addicted parents? How many more children are currently in foster care
for the same reasons?

How many more reasons do any of us need to get involved and start demanding
that the people who legislate, interpret, or enforce our laws join together
to combat this drug problem which has inflicted so much misery on so many
families?

Jean Binkley

Mt. Juliet 37122