One Door County native describes his former life as a heroin user as "just a tidal wave of misery and despair."

The man, who asked to remain anonymous , moved to Madison as a teen and quickly became involved in the drug scene as heroin began making its big comeback.

"It's just a very strange world, and if I stayed in it I would not be alive," he said. "I lost a friend almost every month - only a small amount of us made it through."

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The use of prescription opiate narcotics is on the rise by both the younger and older generation, said Will Taylor, who works as a special agent with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration out of Chicago.

Taylor's job is to nab traffickers bringing heroin and other narcotics into Wisconsin and nearby states including Illinois and Indiana.

As a drug, heroin is made from poppies and is similar to synthetic opiates such as oxycontin and oxycodone. Traffickers move drugs based on supply and demand, and as a prescription drug habit costs more to get high as tolerance levels increase, a hit of heroin is relatively inexpensive.

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Our state's hesitation to pass progressive laws and its attack on union workers has left it less desirable to younger generations. Young adults may be more inclined to move out of state to locales that better match their ideals and interests.

My husband and I moved back to Wisconsin after several years living in other states. We agreed that Wisconsin had the ideal mix of recreation, business and proximity to family that we wanted. However, many of our friends had already left the state or moved shortly after our return. I believe that this could be an indication of a larger trend related to recent policy changes or lack thereof.

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WASHINGTON -- Amelioration of today's drug problem requires Americans to understand the significance of the 80/20 ratio. Twenty percent of American drinkers consume 80 percent of the alcohol sold here. The same 80-20 split obtains among users of illicit drugs.

About 3 million people -- less than 1 percent of America's population - -- consume 80 percent of illegal hard drugs. Drug trafficking organizations can be most efficiently injured by changing the behavior of the 20 percent of heavy users, and we are learning how to do so. Reducing consumption by the 80 percent of casual users will not substantially reduce the northward flow of drugs or the southward flow of money.

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While reading the anti-marijuana legalization letter by Capt. Charles Wood, I came to a sentence that almost made me spit out my coffee in amazement ("Marijuana isn't safe," March 19). He wrote that marijuana promotes violence, and as his evidence, he mentioned "the headless bodies piling up in Mexico."

Yes, there is a lot of drug violence in Mexico, as there was a lot of violence because of Prohibition in the 1920s. We have been ignoring the lessons of Prohibition for the past 75 or so years. The reason there is so much violence associated with marijuana is not because of the drug itself; it is the prohibitions.

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The passing of Joyce Dreyfus, widow of former Gov. Lee Sherman Dreyfus, reminds me of a time when Wisconsin elected representatives from both parties worked together for the common good.

An example was the 1982 passage of the Therapeutic Cannabis Research Act, which passed the Assembly 77-19 and the Senate 32-1. Among those voting in support were Tommy Thompson, William Bablitch, Lynn Adelman, Tom Loftus, Tim Cullen, Michael Ellis and Scott McCallum. Gov. Dreyfus signed the bill into law on April 15, 1982. It remains state law today.

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True story:

Many decades ago, my Grandpa Mike was pulled over for speeding. He was guilty, to be sure, but he still pleaded his case. After all, he wasn't the fastest driver going past the speed trap. In fact, he trailed well behind the pack. Compared to the other drivers, his offense was minuscule, and he said so.

"I agree, they were driving faster," said the officer, "which means I knew you'd be the easiest to stop."

Grandpa got the ticket.

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I read in your paper an opinion about how terrible it was to have medical marijuana in California. Medical marijuana has been a godsend for sick, old, hurt and dying people in my state.

Where medical marijuana shops open, crime has dropped on average by 2 percent or more in that area. Deaths by car accident in the 18 to 34 age bracket have dropped 9 percent where medical marijuana is available. Drivers given a DMV test while using marijuana were found to be as good or better than people using nothing.

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I am writing regarding the editorial of Jan. 31 concerning the Antigo drug probe. I wholeheartedly agree with this opinion; everyone should be concerned when supposedly responsible, trusted adults go so very far astray of their responsibilities to our children and our communities.

With the subject of illegal drug use/abuse in mind, I wonder if folks are aware that state Sen. Jon Erperbach, D-Middleton, has introduced SB 371 into the Senate to in essence legalize medical marijuana in Wisconsin.

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The Antigo and Merrill school districts have been rocked in recent weeks by drug charges against several employees, but the shockwaves from the case extend beyond those communities. And a conversation about drug policies in schools has followed the charges -- a hard but necessary conversation.

Reporting last week by the Wausau Daily Herald revealed that among 14 local school districts surveyed, only three (D.C. Everest Area, Medford and Stevens Point) ask prospective employees to take a drug test. None do drug testing after employees are hired.

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We are shocked by the information contained in preliminary court documents about teachers and other school personnel allegedly involved in illegal drug activity in the Antigo and Merrill schools.

More accusations concerning use and sale of marijuana and cocaine are likely to emerge in the ongoing probe.

But why should we care? This is happening far to our north and has nothing to do with us, right?

Wrong.

It is a major deal when those in positions of public trust, particularly those charged with educating our children, violate that trust and engage in illegal activity.

[continues 234 words]

After reading the recent Wausau Daily Herald article, I was shocked, to say the least. I could not believe that in this day and age the Wausau School District (and other districts in the area) have not long ago required mandatory pre-employment drug testing.

I am now retired, but when employed here in Wausau my employer required mandatory pre-employment drug testing more than 25 years ago.

Do these districts believe it is okay for their employees, teachers and others, to be drug users?

It is time they changed their policy immediately. Kim Hall from the D.C. Everest Area School District was right, as quoted in the story, in saying, "We want good staff."

Warren Fabel,

Wausau

[end]

Only three of 14 school districts surveyed in central Wisconsin drug test teachers before hiring them and none conducts random or scheduled drug tests after employees are hired, according to a Gannett Central Wisconsin Media survey.

Of the districts reviewed, the D.C. Everest Area, Medford and Stevens Point districts are the only ones that check if prospective teachers, administrators and support staff have consumed drugs shortly before hire. About 2,325 of the roughly 5,900 people employed by the 14 school districts -- roughly 39 percent -- passed drug tests before they were hired.

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ANTIGO -- The court documents paint a shocking scene at a secluded golf course carved out of the pines and oaks north of Antigo.

The records describe a group of men in their 40s and 50s regularly meeting to buy, sell and smoke marijuana -- among them an elementary school principal who also coached the varsity football team, a former head football coach, a former athletic director and at least two other school employees. Sometimes, cocaine was involved.

Witness statements in court documents stemming from a Langlade County Sheriff's Department investigation indicate the Bass Lake Country Club in the town of Upham was a hotbed of drug activity.

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Dear Amy: This past weekend I attended a large cocktail party with a group of new friends.

At this party some of the other guests were smoking marijuana and doing other illegal drugs. I recognized one of the drug users as an elementary teacher at my daughter's school.

Because the school is large, I doubt the teacher recognized me. My daughter is not in her class. I know this teacher has tenure because she has been at the school for a long time.

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