DON'T LINK TERRORIST THREAT TO FAILED WAR ON DRUGS

The nation's drug warriors have seen their resources cut back since America
refocused on the war on terrorism. And recently they have been trying to
link the war on drugs to the war on terrorism in a rather blatant attempt
to regain funding.

Even in this context, however, who would imagine that they could sink so
low as to spend millions on two Super Bowl anti-drug ads that essentially
accused drug users of financing terrorism?

It is true that some portion of drug sales generate profits that terrorists
use to finance violence. Nevertheless, drug trafficking is just one of the
many businesses, legal and illegal, that terrorists use to finance their
operations.

The war on drugs is an abject failure, and the reason is clear: As long as
Americans remain addicted to drugs and will do whatever it takes to pay for
them, profits from illegal drug sales will overwhelm any money spent on
enforcement.

In any case, it's shameful for the government to buy the most expensive
airtime possible for spots designed to link the popular, necessary war on
terrorism with the unpopular, failed war on drugs.

PETER FITTON, Baltimore

TREATMENT WORKS: RESULTS LEND URGENCY TO FUNDING PROPOSAL

It's important to finally have solid, local data that proves addiction
treatment works ("Baltimore drug programs prove effective, study finds,"
Jan. 31).

While people in recovery, advocates and professionals in the field have
been saying this for many years, only recently has our community come
together in agreement that treatment for this disease is an effective and
wise investment.

Part of the reason for this is the work of the Maryland Drug Treatment Task
Force, created through the efforts of Del. Daniel K. Morhaim and Del.
Shirley Nathan-Pulliam, and led by Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend.

This task force studied alcohol and drug addiction for two years and
concluded that much more money needs to be invested in treatment statewide.
And this is the third year in a row that Gov. Parris N. Glendening has
allocated a significant amount of money for treatment.

The legislature will soon decide if funding for treatment should be
increased by $15 million this year, with $9 million of that money earmarked
for Baltimore.

We encourage our leaders to retain these funds, especially in light of the
overwhelming data proving such spending is the right thing to do.

Paula K. Minsk, Baltimore

The writer is executive director of the Maryland chapter of the National
Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence