Pubdate: Fri, 02 Jul 1999 Source: Eastern Daily Press (UK) Copyright: 1999 Eastern Counties Newspapers Group Ltd Contact: Prospect House, Rouen Road, Norwich NR1 1RE, UK Website: http://www.ecn.co.uk/ Author: Mick Partridge OVERLOOKED ONE SALIENT POINT Having just read Nigel Simon's letter, surely he has overlooked one salient point. Skiing, horse-riding, sailing, golfing, hill walking and cleaning upstairs windows are not illegal! Mrs D Wells, Hethel Road Wreeningham I must take issue with your correspondent Nigel Simon (EDP June 28) when he compares recreational drugs with other risky recreational activities. Mr Simon states that road accidents exclusive of essential driving would come top of the death list over a 10-year period. I would agree with that. However road safety is another issue and needs to be tackled separately. It should not be compared with drug taking, social or otherwise. I spent 17 years in the RAF and I believe the armed forces policy on drugs to be spot on. It is simple, meddle in drugs and you are out. This of course was backed with good education and awareness of drugs both in basic training and throughout my service career so I feel I know a little about the subject. Since leaving the service I have also been involved in setting up of random drug and alcohol testing programmes within the workplace. Mr Simon seems to believe that cannabis is no worse than alcohol and should be legalised. I would disagree totally - use of cannabis can bring on very irrational behaviour and mood swings and it stays in the body for some considerable time. The Americans conducted a controlled test in a flight simulator. A qualified pilot was given a 'joint' to smoke, he was then asked to carry out a simulated approach and landing. He couldn't even land on the runway! Many hours later he was asked to carry out the same test and he still missed the runway centreline by several feet. Is this what we want in our workplace? Would Mr Simon like to be on an aircraft that had been serviced by and was piloted by cannabis users? I wouldn't. The most dangerous aspect of cannabis I believe is when the user no longer gets the 'high' he/she once had and moves on to something stronger to get that same effect such as heroin or cocaine. How many heroin addicts started by using cannabis? As apparent I would condemn Mr Simon's attitude towards drugs. We need to educate our children in the dangers of drugs and where they can lead not soften our stance and legalise them. You cannot compare drugs with the other recreational pursuits. Yes many pursuits have risks, most of those you can control and reduce with the use of correct safety equipment and procedures. take drugs and you can easily get on to that downward spiral that you can't control. Before long your life is misery and ultimately it could cause your death. Mick Partridge Suters Drive Thorpe Marriott - --- MAP posted-by: Derek Rea