Pubdate: Wed, 07 Jun 2000 Source: Florida Times-Union (FL) Copyright: The Florida Times-Union 2000 Contact: http://www.times-union.com/ Forum: http://cafe.jacksonville.com/cafesociety.html Author: Carolyn Abell Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n771/a02.html Drugs AN ADDICT IS STILL AN ADDICT A letter writer recently alleged that children now have access to guns because "law-abiding citizens are buying guns to protect themselves" from gang warfare and other criminal activity resulting from drug addicts' attempts to purchase illegal drugs. The letter writer then suggested that, to reduce this criminal activity and reduce the number of inmates we have to support in the prisons, the government provide free prescriptions for addicts (presumably free marijuana, cocaine, heroin, etc.). He said that legalizing the dispensing of these currently "illegal" drugs will eliminate the associated murders, extortion and other criminal acts currently associated with the illegal drug trade. One thing the writer failed to recognize is that the addict will still be an addict. This addict will continue to perform under the influence of a mind-altering substance, which will make him a menace to society. Giving free prescriptions of these substances will not only fail to stop the traffic accidents, assaults, suicides, rapes and murders committed "under the influence," but they would actually open the door for defense lawyers to claim government liability for these crimes, since the government provided the means (free drugs). Carolyn Abell, senior planner, Jacksonville - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D