LIFE IN A DRUG CULTURE AN ABYSMAL EXPERIENCE

I have never read such drivel as the letter about legalizing drugs, "Drug
war a huge failure; let's try something else" (News, May 4).

I lived in a drug culture from 1976 to 1980. That culture was the United
States Navy. Both the enlisted men and officers were smoking dope. It was
the worst four years I spent in the military and that includes Vietnam.

I spent a total of 30 years from 1959 to 1989 in both the Air Force and the
Navy. There was some drug use during that time, but '76 thru '80 was the
worst. Yes, there was a lot of boozing, but the druggies were the people
that we had the most trouble with. According to policy, the Navy sent
sailors who failed drug tests to rehab at least three times before
discharge. What a failure.

In 1980 the Navy started a zero-tolerance policy. It worked wonders, as did
getting rid of the draft. What an improvement! All you have to do is listen
to the young men and women in uniform being interviewed on CNN and Fox,
while on duty in faraway lands to see how good they are.

If drugs are legalized, who gets to do them? Doctors, police, teachers in
the lounge? You tell me!

Foster D. Wendell