Pubdate: Sun, 08 Jun 2008
Source: Arizona Republic (Phoenix, AZ)
Copyright: 2008 The Arizona Republic
Contact:  http://www.arizonarepublic.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/24
Author: Dr. Daniel Beck

COST OF LEGALIZING DRUGS WAY TOO HIGH

A Tempe letter writer advises that illicit drugs should be made 
legal, and hence the "war" on drugs, with all its excesses could be 
reduced as a result ("Legalization better than war on drugs," 
Letters, Thursday).

The Marin Institute states that alcohol-related health expenditures 
alone are greater than $22 billion a year. Is the letter writer 
prepared to spend similar sums of money that will be necessary to 
treat all the "new" illnesses caused by the new, legal drugs?

Does the writer think there will be a savings involved here?

I see another profound drain on the font of health-care dollars 
because of such delusional thinking.

- - Dr. Daniel Beck, Prescott
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom