U.S. drug policy misses the mark

The federal Drug Enforcement Agency admits that after 40 years and a trillion tax dollars spent, drugs are cheaper, stronger and readily available to our youth. Why then are you “pleased to hear the new DEA chief in Chicago will target drug activity in the suburbs”? You give readers the false hope that a few more agents will reduce drug availability.

As alcohol kills more teens than all the other drugs combined, you focus attention on marijuana as the problem. This despite every study that shows 96 percent of all teen users of marijuana never try heroin. Alcohol abuse is actually a better indicator of later heroin use.

The DEA and drug dealers only fear one headline in the Daily Herald: “Drug prohibition repealed.” Until that day comes, both groups are making good money off this failed policy.

Howard Wooldridge

Drug policy specialist

Citizens Opposing Prohibition

Washington, D.C.