ALCOHOL STILL THE MOST DANGEROUS DRUG

Editor:

Regarding Nadine McEwen's article on the importance of parental
involvement in reducing drug use, the point cannot be overstated.

School-based extracurricular activities also have been shown to reduce
use. They keep kids busy during the hours they're most likely to get
into trouble.

In order for drug prevention efforts to effectively reduce harm, they
must be reality-based.

The most popular drug and the one most closely associated with violent
behavior is often overlooked by parents. That drug is alcohol, and it
takes far more lives each year than all illegal drugs combined.
Alcohol may be legal, but it's still the number one drug problem.

Drug education programs must be reality-based or they may backfire
when kids are inevitably exposed to drug use among their peers.

Robert Sharpe

Arlington, VA