BETTER LIVING THROUGH CHEMISTRY

A study by Human Rights Watch found facts suggesting that the drug war is
biased against blacks. Generally whites don't care, and blacks, like
whites, are too timid or too shortsighted to call for more than a
treatment, prevention, prison-diversion solution.

Sara Aeschlimann overdosed. Steve Lorenz overdosed. Both are dead. Was it
methylenedioxymethphetamine or was it paramethoxymethamphetamine? That is
to say, was it Ecstasy or was it "Doublestack White Mitsubishi"? These are
tough questions for high school students taking Chemistry 101 in the real
world, drug-war laboratory. Both drugs are labeled "just say no."

Generally, politicians are responding to these DuPage and McHenry county
deaths by calling for the proverbial tougher penalty. The theory is that
some kids can be saved from synthetic, recreational drug use by threatening
drug dealers of all ages with lengthy prison sentences.

Tougher penalties imposed upon those engaged in the marijuana, cocaine and
heroin trade have not prevented dramatically increased levels of drug
purity and drug availability for those substances. Nevertheless, no one
seems to hear the heavenly call "end the drug war."

James E. Gierach, Oak Lawn