Teen Drug Use
Re “‘More Than Just Saying No,” editorial, Aug. 19:
It has been estimated that this so-called “war on drugs” now costs us a total of $40 billion per year. This total includes federal, state and local costs, both at home and abroad for federal interdiction, local policing and for the justice and penal system. And for this amount, teen drug use increased 118% in just three years.
When are those of us who are paying for this failed policy going to demand that this substantial amount of money be spent on education and treatment versus criminalization and punishment?
JIM HARRIGAN
Rancho Palos Verdes
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