Pubdate: Sat, 15 Jan 2005 Source: Salem News (MA) Copyright: 2005 Essex County Newspapers Contact: http://www.salemnews.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3466 Author: Christopher A. Pizzo Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n042/a05.html How do we address the drug epidemic? TIGHTER BORDER SECURITY Because drugs play a major role in society today, I believe there are numerous things we can do to get the drug epidemic under control. We should have tighter security on the U.S. borders. After all, don't a lot of drugs come from other countries? If we tighten up security, less drugs will enter the country through other imported shipments. For the criminals who are caught in illegal possession of narcotics, there should be harsher and stricter punishments. On average, anyone busted with drugs only gets sentenced to about a year or two behind bars. That is hardly enough to scare them straight. There should also be more support for those seeking help. There are many drug rehabilitation centers in this country for people who have a drug abuse problem. But how efficient are these places when more often than not, the people who sought help relapse into drug addiction? Drugs are indeed a big problem today. Addressing this issue is a big problem. You know what they say about problems and such. If you can't beat it, join it. We could legalize each and every single drug and narcotic out there. People would be walking, talking, and acting like a total yahoo everywhere you look. Christopher A. Pizzo Salem - --- MAP posted-by: Josh