Drugs and Music

It seems that every time I turn around The Times has another naive editorial about drug use in the music industry. Now The Times is suggesting that health Nazis report any drug use by artists within the industry (Aug. 13). I would suggest that the laws regarding drugs make the drugs much more dangerous than they would be on their own. Your editorial policy adds one very loud voice in keeping the underworld afloat and ensuring that potency of drugs remains a deadly guessing game.

Human nature has always sought relief from anguish and pain. Art has historically evolved from this same instinct. Perhaps we should have banned Van Gogh, F. Scott Fitzgerald, many of our Founding Fathers and just about every artist worth appreciating for more than a year or two.

MICHAEL ABRAMS

Los Angeles