Pubdate: Mon, 22 Nov 1999 Date: 11/22/1999 Source: Nation, The (US) Author: Robert Cogswell Related: All the special issue articles are linked at: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99/n963/a03.html Michael Massing makes no mention of drug use as distinguished from drug abuse. By far, the majority of people of my generation who use illegal drugs for recreation have not surrendered their involvement in the rest of their lives (family, work, other forms of recreation, etc.), But what has me riled up is Massing's phrase "tough on abuse." Abuse is already tough on the abuser, so any program that purports to be tough on abuse or abusers is likely to fail. In the toughness model, the abuser avoids contact with his persecutor and abuses in private or with other abusers. It is vitally important to find a workable model for making these illegal substances available to those who want them and are old enough to make choices (legally). Any who indulge to the extent of abuse will thus be close to a situation where they can seek assistance if they need it. Robert Cogswell Sausalito, Calif.