Pubdate: Wed, 11 Jun 2003 Source: Tennessean, The (TN) Copyright: 2003 The Tennessean Contact: http://www.tennessean.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/447 Author: Donnie Allen REAL WAR ON DRUGS HAS NEVER BEEN WAGED To the Editor: The is in regards to your story, "Drug users a burden on ER services," June 6. For 40 years we have waged a fake war on mind-altering drugs and those who distribute them. There has been no war on drugs. Police make arrests for dealers, and they are back on the street before the police can complete the paperwork documenting the arrest. In fact some police will not make arrests for pot use anymore, because they feel that it will take them off the street for too long of a period. It is time as parents, health-care workers, teachers and everyone to start demanding our government stand up and end the most deadly terrorist attack on our nation - illegal drugs. More people have died from the effects of drug use, or the crimes committed by those who use drugs. It has cost the taxpayers more to fund treatment and education to prevent people from using drugs or to control their addiction. This problem will never be stopped until we declare a real war on drugs. Maybe we need to start classifying dealers as terrorists and have them pay the ultimate price for their chemical war on our nation. The ending of the drug problem will save billions in state and federal tax dollars. It will save the public the cost of secondary crime such as shoplifting, armed robbery, yes and even murders. When the secondary crimes are no longer being committed, we can start using the money spent to house prisoners to our schools, health-care needs or even tax cuts. Donnie Allen Lebanon 37090 - --- MAP posted-by: Alex