UNEMPLOYMENT IS ROOT OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE

The Vital Statistics Annual Report from the West Virginia Department of
Health and Human Resources said 20,993 West Virginians died in 1999. Only
33 died from alcohol or drug psychoses, dependence or abuse. Of those, only
14 died from accidental or intentional poisoning by narcotics and
psychodysleptics (hallucinogens).

I realize 33 people are nothing to sneeze at. But when compared to the
other deaths - 4,737 people from cancer, 6,959 people from heart disease,
1,341 from cerebrovascular disease, 800 from motor and nonmotor vehicle
accidents, etc. - it's a drop in the proverbial bucket.

Drug abuse has been around since before the discovery of tobacco. Indians
smoked peyote to get high. Chronic opium smokers of China are with us
today. As long as there are people with wants and needs, there are people
with substance abuse. Why not outlaw tobacco, which caused 4,227 deaths
from lung disease? Outlaw carbohydrates next and alcohol, vehicles, other
prescription drugs - and don't forget guns.

West Virginia has a problem providing alternatives for its young people.
Only when we attack substance abuse at its roots, which is chronic
unemployment, lack of education and poverty, will we really begin to
correct these problems. Banning the first legally available medication for
chronic pain is the wrong thing to do.

Sandra McClung,

Quinwood