Controversy Over Legalization of Drugs in America

Thank you for the series of articles you ran on drugs (Drugs: America Looks for the Way Out, Op-Ed Page, March 12-21). I notice one thing common to those who oppose decriminalization. They argue against a straw man they set up, namely simple decriminalization without any social services to go with it. No one is proposing decriminalization without providing drug education for those at risk and counseling for those already hooked.

If you look at the fact that this year alone we will spend $9.5 billion on punishing drug use, it becomes apparent that massive social services could be provided with money freed up from the criminal justice system. If we used all the money, we could not only provide the aforementioned counseling and education but remedial reading and math programs along with job-skills training and even jobs themselves.

We have to face up to the fact that we’ve lost our drug war. We have to have the courage to change course and design a program that works.

ANN ALPER

Pacific Palisades

More letters on the drug series will be published on Monday.