Pubdate: Thu: 18 Feb 1999 Source: New York Times (NY) Copyright: 1999 The New York Times Company Contact: http://www.nytimes.com/ Forum: http://forums.nytimes.com/comment/ Author: Emmett Barcalow Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99.n172.a04.html DRUG PROBLEM IS OURS To the Editor: The United States' appetite for drugs has devastated Mexico, corrupting its society at almost every level. Yet we have the audacity to talk of penalizing it for not doing enough to fight the drug trade (front page, Feb. 16). The drug problem is ours, not Mexico's. The solution is to reduce our craving for drugs, which can only be accomplished by focusing our efforts on treatment and prevention rather than on police action to catch drug smugglers and dealers. Unfortunately, President Clinton's budget still has the same priorities, earmarking more money for police than for treatment. EMMETT BARCALOW Amherst, Mass., Feb. 16, 1999 - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake