Glidden on the Drug Problem

The good Prof. Glidden seems rather simplistic in his “either-or” arguments, i.e., “legalizing drugs amounts to trading lives for property.” He should read The Times daily for accounts of innocent lives lost and damaged due to indiscriminate drug-related violent acts.

Actually, it remains the non-users (that is most of us by far) who are the real victims of our contraband-drug prohibitions and who would benefit the most by decriminalization. Maybe we would then feel free to leave our homes, visit parks, go to the theater, visit friends, shop and live the life to which we are entitled as law-abiding citizens.

Why must we suffer because a relatively small percentage of society are addicts? These are people who need psychiatric, medical and economic help to overcome their severe addictions. Our drug wars must be directed to these needs.

SHERWOOD SHAFER

Los Angeles