THE 'RADICAL' DUTCH DRUG POLICY MAKES SENSE

It was with a breaking heart I read the article regarding teens fighting
heroin addiction ("Heroin's Hold," March 24). This is a story that just
won't go away, resurfacing whenever an especially potent batch of heroin
comes through the area. I applaud the efforts made by the government in
supporting Act 53, giving parents some crucial assistance in getting help
for their addicted children.

Treatment is a large part of the solution, but as the article explains, it
is the entry into hard drug use that is a large part of the problem. As a
former Pittsburgher now living in the Netherlands, I have been able to
witness firsthand the results of the "radical" Dutch drug policy.

The Dutch are very pragmatic about drug use, recognizing the different
layers of use and addiction, as well as access. The decision to tolerate
soft drugs (primarily marijuana) was aimed directly at keeping young
experimenters away from hard drugs. The policy has worked so far -- the
average age of a heroin addict is now in the 40s.

Everybody agrees that staying substance-free -- including alcohol and
nicotine -- is the healthiest way to lead a life. The reality, of course,
is far different. The Dutch government has taken perhaps the most
comprehensive, rational and humane approach to drug policy, with generally
good results. No system is perfect, and it is easy to point out small
flaws, but for the health of the community and reduction in crime rates, it
has been very successful.

One wonders why the United States continues to throw money at a war that
just cannot be won with the current strategy; treatment is just the beginning.

MATHIEU AHLSTROM, Delft, Netherlands