Pubdate: Tue, 24 May 2005
Source: San Jose Mercury News (CA)
Copyright: 2005 San Jose Mercury News
Contact:  http://www.mercurynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/390
Author: Steve Beitler

CONGRESS WON'T SLOW STEROID USE

The flurry of proposed federal legislation on steroids as reported by the 
Mercury News (Page 1A, May 20) obscures a difficult truth: One of the last 
places we should expect to find honesty, courage or imagination on drug 
policy is the U.S. Congress.

For decades, the bipartisan disaster of the "War on Drugs" has featured the 
same tough talk, increasingly harsh penalties and posturing that we see 
today. But more Americans are now addicted to, dependent on, abusing or 
using a wider variety of substances than ever. Why should we expect a 
different outcome on steroids if we're using the same approaches?

Steve Beitler

Palo Alto
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