Pubdate: Sat, 11 May 2002
Source: Denver Rocky Mountain News (CO)
Copyright: 2002, Denver Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.rockymountainnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/371
Author: Foster D. Wendell

LIFE IN A DRUG CULTURE AN ABYSMAL EXPERIENCE

I have never read such drivel as the letter about legalizing drugs, "Drug 
war a huge failure; let's try something else" (News, May 4).

I lived in a drug culture from 1976 to 1980. That culture was the United 
States Navy. Both the enlisted men and officers were smoking dope. It was 
the worst four years I spent in the military and that includes Vietnam.

I spent a total of 30 years from 1959 to 1989 in both the Air Force and the 
Navy. There was some drug use during that time, but '76 thru '80 was the 
worst. Yes, there was a lot of boozing, but the druggies were the people 
that we had the most trouble with. According to policy, the Navy sent 
sailors who failed drug tests to rehab at least three times before 
discharge. What a failure.

In 1980 the Navy started a zero-tolerance policy. It worked wonders, as did 
getting rid of the draft. What an improvement! All you have to do is listen 
to the young men and women in uniform being interviewed on CNN and Fox, 
while on duty in faraway lands to see how good they are.

If drugs are legalized, who gets to do them? Doctors, police, teachers in 
the lounge? You tell me!

Foster D. Wendell
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