HEROIN INACTION

ELMHURST U.S. Rep. Dennis Hastert's warning about the Clinton administration's inept handling of an increasingly deadly heroin trade in the U.S. ("Move now in Colombia drug war," Nov. 29) is timely and should be heeded. The congressman's assessment of the situation in Colombia and the U.S. is an accurate and alarming portrayal of how President Clinton, Vice President Al Gore and drug czar Barry McCaffrey are AWOL when it comes to defending young Americans from deadly illicit drugs.

While the White House has thrown its full array of executive and public relations powers into the war against U.S. cigarette manufacturers, a politically safe maneuver, it has been outflanked by both the producers and suppliers of heroin. More disturbing is the fact that although McCaffrey seems to be aware of these trends, Clinton does nothing to back him up.

Heroin production, supply and use leaves a path of carnage hardly comparable to any other drug. While cigarette addiction is certainly a deadly proposition, if Americans used heroin the way they do tobacco products, we wouldn't have any need for drug czars or presidents only our next fix.

David S. Noffs

Executive director
Life Education Center, USA