MORALISTS SET UNREALISTIC GOAL IN WAR ON DRUGS

I agree with many of Patty Jo Sawvel's points ("Sometimes simple solutions
succeed," Neighbors, March 19). The problem is that she advocates honesty
and then presents unscientific, unsubstantiated opinions, not to mention
presenting the loss of college financial aid in a very matter-of-fact
manner, when this law is quite unjust and is ripe for repeal at this very
moment. For instance, the few National Institute on Drug Abuse studies done
on ecstasy have been discredited under peer review, and the wider
scientific community does not know what the health consequences of using
this drug are. We just do not know.

Given that 1,500 people per year die from aspirin intake, the hysterical
tones around ecstasy turn off kids. I do not think most kids would
appreciate Sawvel's intolerant undertones either, albeit she does mask them
well.

It is a shame to see this occur, for it would be best if drug policy
experts who are reasonable and grounded in science would be the ones
offering advice. Not silly moralists with one goal in mind, said goal being
a drug-free world. That is not a reasonable goal.

Matthew Hulett

Short Hills, N.J.