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Victims
need help
To the editor:
Your war upon drugs by courageous publication of all names of offenders has merit.
Do you know that several (four or five) years ago there was a discussion in your paper about the same thing regarding the abuse of alcohol? Your paper did not have the courage then to carry a separate column for the legal drug which kills more people and devastates more families than the drugs you have chosen to fight.
The point I made then I shall try to make again. Addicts, whether on legal or illegal drugs, have a denial system that enables them to continue to suffer rather than seek help. They tell themselves that “nobody knows.” The publishing of a separate column will give a small boost to their recovery. The point of your editorial seemed to be to punish, across the board, victims, as well as sellers rather than as a helping hand to those that need it.
If you do not publish the alcohol convictions in the same manner as illegal drug users, you are unfair. All addicts deserve the same treatment. It is unfortunate that we cannot find a way to help those who stay stoned on prescription drugs.
I endorse the punishment of the sellers and distributors of illegal drugs. My point is, the victims need help.
WALTER DAY
Washington
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