THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, August 16, 1994 TAG: 9408160006
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 33 lines
``Wrong way to go'' (editorial, Aug. 3), about cracking down on drug users, troubled me deeply. I submit that drug use is not stigmatized enough if ``. . people (users) who are basically law-abiding citizens,'' as you stated.
The middle-class (and above) ``yuppie'' users of illicit drugs are admittedly a small segment of the total population. But they are a disproportionately influential segment! They include politicians and law-enforcement officials, business and professional people and university professors and students. It is highly unlikely that the total problem resulting from illegal drug use will be significantly abated if we attack only the drug-delivery system and leave this segment of the market demand unscathed, oftentimes even protected.
Some communities have had success in combating problems involving drunken drivers, prostitution and spouse/child abuse by enforcing prosecution of these cases and publicizing the names of the ``users.'' Perhaps this should be looked at by your proposed blue-ribbon national commission and communities across the nation.
DONALD ARQUETTE
Kill Devil Hills, N.C., Aug. 4, 1994 by CNB