Pubdate: Fri, 23 Mar 2001
Source: Washington Post (DC)
Copyright: 2001 The Washington Post Company
Contact:  1150 15th Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20071
Feedback: http://washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/edit/letters/letterform.htm
Website: http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Author: Sandra S. Bennett
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n454/a09.html

DRUGS, FAMILIES, FRIENDS

Regarding the March 15 news story "In Senate Debate on Drugs, 'Traffic' 
Moves Minds":

Since the cocaine-related death of our son 15 years ago, I have been 
involved in drug prevention and have met hundreds of addicts and recovering 
addicts. They were unanimous in telling me that their first drugs came not 
from a drug dealer but from a family member or a friend.

Exacerbating this problem are those who use and promote drug use as a 
personal right. Regardless of how they couch their rhetoric, these "drug 
policy experts" want to be allowed to use whatever drugs they want, 
whenever they want, disregarding the cost that drug use imposes on the rest 
of society.

Of course, treatment is needed for drug addiction. But to make prevention 
work, users must face meaningful social consequences. In 1998 nearly 16,000 
children died as a result of drug use. Many obtained drugs on school 
property. Many educators have been arrested and prosecuted for selling or 
providing drugs to students. Where are the media headlines and public 
outcry about that?

Numerous states have enacted a law known as the Drug Dealer's Liability 
Act. This law gives the family of someone who has been damaged by drugs 
legal recourse against known drug dealers in their area. Perhaps that 
should be expanded to include recourse against anyone who openly promotes 
drug use as well.

When those who entice others, either directly or indirectly, to become 
involved with illicit drugs are held liable for the consequences, then we 
will begin to see a dramatic recession of our nation's drug problems.

Sandra S. Bennett, Director, Northwest Center for Health and 
Safety,LaCenter, Wash.
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D