News (Media Awareness Project) - US: NYT LTEs: We Can't Just Ignore the Devastation of Drugs |
| Title: | US: NYT LTEs: We Can't Just Ignore the Devastation of Drugs |
| Published On: | 1998-01-18 |
| Source: | New York Times |
| Fetched On: | 2008-09-07 16:52:44 |
WE CAN'T JUST IGNORE THE DEVASTATION OF DRUGS
To the Editor:
While Milton Friedman's facts are excellent on the impact of the drug
problem, his conclusion that it's up to addicts to decide whether to use
drugs is absurd (Op-Ed, Jan. 11).
Drugs -- especially hard-core drugs like heroin and cocaine -- have an
enormous biological, psychological and social pull that defeats rational
thinking about whether to use them. Mr. Friedman's solution, which is no
solution at all, does not seem to be an improvement over the war on drugs
that he laments.
LISA M. NAJAVITS Belmont, Mass., Jan. 12, 1998
The writer is an assistant professor of psychiatry, Harvard Medical School.
------
A RACIAL EFFECT
To the Editor:
Milton Friedman asks how America's drug war policy can be moral if it has
so "racist" an effect (Op-Ed, Jan. 11), but the effect is racial, not racist.
"Racist" and "racism" are two of the most misused words in the English
language. A disparate impact on a certain race is a racial effect, but it
is not always the result of racism. For example, African-Americans dominate
professional basketball, but that does not mean that the National
Basketball Association is racist.
It is impossible to have a meaningful dialogue on the subject of race if
people carelessly interchange words and confuse cause with effect.
America's drug policy has had a racial effect, but is racism the cause? Mr.
Friedman never answers this important question.
CRAIG J. CANTONI Scottsdale, Ariz., Jan. 14, 1998
--------
NEEDLESS SUFFERING
To the Editor:
Milton Friedman's discussion of our failed drug war hits a painful truth
regarding the undertreatment of chronic pain by physicians (Op-Ed, Jan.
11). As someone who recently suffered painful burns to his hands, I can
testify to this sad fact.
Physicians are indeed quite afraid to prescribe narcotics. They often
substitute less effective medication or prescribe narcotics in minimal
amounts. Patients are left rationing their pills in case greater pain
presents itself in the future. This is clearly one of the hidden effects of
our current drug policy.
JOE FERRARI Astoria, Queens, Jan. 14, 1998
Copyright 1998 The New York Times Company
To the Editor:
While Milton Friedman's facts are excellent on the impact of the drug
problem, his conclusion that it's up to addicts to decide whether to use
drugs is absurd (Op-Ed, Jan. 11).
Drugs -- especially hard-core drugs like heroin and cocaine -- have an
enormous biological, psychological and social pull that defeats rational
thinking about whether to use them. Mr. Friedman's solution, which is no
solution at all, does not seem to be an improvement over the war on drugs
that he laments.
LISA M. NAJAVITS Belmont, Mass., Jan. 12, 1998
The writer is an assistant professor of psychiatry, Harvard Medical School.
------
A RACIAL EFFECT
To the Editor:
Milton Friedman asks how America's drug war policy can be moral if it has
so "racist" an effect (Op-Ed, Jan. 11), but the effect is racial, not racist.
"Racist" and "racism" are two of the most misused words in the English
language. A disparate impact on a certain race is a racial effect, but it
is not always the result of racism. For example, African-Americans dominate
professional basketball, but that does not mean that the National
Basketball Association is racist.
It is impossible to have a meaningful dialogue on the subject of race if
people carelessly interchange words and confuse cause with effect.
America's drug policy has had a racial effect, but is racism the cause? Mr.
Friedman never answers this important question.
CRAIG J. CANTONI Scottsdale, Ariz., Jan. 14, 1998
--------
NEEDLESS SUFFERING
To the Editor:
Milton Friedman's discussion of our failed drug war hits a painful truth
regarding the undertreatment of chronic pain by physicians (Op-Ed, Jan.
11). As someone who recently suffered painful burns to his hands, I can
testify to this sad fact.
Physicians are indeed quite afraid to prescribe narcotics. They often
substitute less effective medication or prescribe narcotics in minimal
amounts. Patients are left rationing their pills in case greater pain
presents itself in the future. This is clearly one of the hidden effects of
our current drug policy.
JOE FERRARI Astoria, Queens, Jan. 14, 1998
Copyright 1998 The New York Times Company
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