Pubdate: Sun, 04 Jun 2006 Source: Post and Courier, The (Charleston, SC) Contact: 2006 Evening Post Publishing Co. Website: http://www.charleston.net/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/567 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n697/a03.html Author: Mary Ann Solberg DON'T LEGALIZE DRUGS The recent opinion piece, "Drug legalization would help bring end to related crime" ignores the painful lessons we have learned about illegal drugs in America over the past several decades. Drugs such as meth, marijuana and heroin are illegal because they are harmful. The notion that making drugs legal would make our nation safer is absurd and contradicts the efforts of committed parents, teachers and community leaders who are working to keep dangerous, addictive drugs away from young people. In the opinion piece, it is noted that the goal of his group, "South Carolinians for Drug Law Reform" is to "legalize all drugs." What would South Carolina, or the United States, look like if we had just as many people using meth, heroin or marijuana as use cigarettes or alcohol? Solid public health strategies are formed on the understanding that the less illegal drugs are socially acceptable and the less availability there is, the fewer users there are. As a resident of Charleston, I hope my fellow South Carolinians will join me in our efforts to change a culture of acceptance of drug use by providing accurate information about the dangers of drugs to users and the costs to society. Mary Ann Solberg Deputy Director Office of National Drug Control Policy Washinton, D.C. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake