Drug busts not the answer

The front page story (Chronicle, Aug. 12) on the smashing of
three drug cells of a Mexican cartel ) is exactly the sort of
"body count" story that lulls the American people into the belief
that we are making progress in stopping the drug flow. The facts
are quite different.

According to a U.N. study, the illegal drug industry now controls
8 percent of the world's economy. It is now easier for our
children to get illegal drugs than alcohol. This is the
"progress" made by our war on drugs.

It's time to get on with the less sensational public health
strategies. Let's give doctors and other healthcare workers a
chance. The criminal justice system surely could use some help.

Dr. Richard A. Evans, Houston president, Drug Policy Forum of Texas