Pubdate: Thu, 30 May 2002 Source: Press & Sun Bulletin (NY) Copyright: 2002 Press & Sun Bulletin Contact: http://www.pressconnects.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/878 Author: Pat Baron Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n954/a06.html DRUG ADDICTION A DISEASE I have to disagree with Redmond Givens' statement that when drugs were legal, addicts lived normal lives. Unless he has lived with an addicted family member, how can he assume families were not shattered? He states that overdose was rare and the addiction rate was lower back then. Perhaps it's because families kept addictions hush-hush. We live in a different age now. Drug addiction is a disease, and changing the drug laws will not "cure" it. Pat Baron Owego - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom