Pubdate: Tue, 05 Mar 2002 Source: Orlando Sentinel (FL) Copyright: 2002 Orlando Sentinel Contact: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/325 Author: George Bunowski Note: Headline supplied by newshawk DRUG WAR IS A WASTE OF TAX MONEY According to Henry Pierson Curtis's article in the local section Saturday, we have become apathetic about people using heroin. But did we ever really care about this as long as it wasn't openly happening in our own back yard and causing crime in our neighborhood? I do think that it's tragic that so many people are ruining their lives this way, but it is also tragic that so many people ruin their health with cigarettes and others ruin their lives with alcohol. The only difference is that there is no "war" on the legal substances. And this doesn't even take into account all the lives that are ruined by the war when people are locked up for possession. Just another big waste of tax dollars. And it's not true that I really don't care. I do care that so much of my tax money is being wasted on a war that can't be won. But the simple fact is that the so-called war on drugs will never be won as long as people want the drugs and there is so much money to be made selling them. Just look at how successful we have been in our fight against prostitution There is obviously no easy solution to this very serious problem. The only sure thing is that trying to solve the problem the way that we are currently going about it is never going to work. But, unfortunately, no one seems to be brave enough to try to take a realistic approach to solving this problem, and I don't see that happening in my lifetime. Just don't expect me to care. GEORGE BUNOWSKI Winter Springs - --- MAP posted-by: S Heath(DPF of Florida)