NEW DRUG POLICY MAY BE MORE OF THE SAME

Regarding "Drug war's marching orders" (Feb. 14, Editorial): George W. Bush
says he'll stop 25 percent of America's drug use in five years? Lest we
forget, we were promised a "drug-free America by 2002" at a Capitol Hill
press conference in 1998. In fact, we've been promised the chimera of a
"drug-free America" quite a number of times. Mr. Bush's policy hardly
represents a change in course. His drug budget is the "same old, same old"
and the results will be, too.

Dave Michon Eau Claire, Wis.

The tactic of the present drug laws is to ignore the root cause of drug use
in favor of trying to remove the effects through criminalization. This has
failed miserably. What's needed is a concentrated effort to address the
"reasons" people use drugs. Criminalization of drug use only magnifies the
guilty feeling and lack of self-esteem already existing. We need to repeal
the drug war laws in favor of education and decriminalization and teach our
children self-esteem so they can become active members of their communities
and interface successfully with their peers. We need to concentrate on the
cause, not the effects.

Darrell J. Sekin Irving, Texas

Our nation has to quit its campaign of "drugs don't feel good" nonsense. We
must use science to target education and intervention to meet the needs of
young people. Showing them that drugs are morally wrong and that they ruin
the environment and destroy communities is probably more effective than
trying to send them the message that drugs don't feel good. And we must
also stop sending the message that cigarettes and alcohol are different issues.

Helen Harberts Chico, Calif.

Regarding "In drug treatment vs. prison, a political shift in tone" (Feb.
14): It's important for us to realize that we shouldn't choke our prisons
with people who should be in rehabilitation. Those who know people with a
drug problem need to feel assurance that if they report their friend it
will mean that friend will receive the help he or she needs. We can't
expect friends and family of drug users to cooperate while we threaten
their loved ones with brutal confinement, where their addiction will be
ignored and untreated.

Nathan Engle Bloomington, Ind.