Pubdate: Fri, 29 Nov 2002 Source: Times Daily (Florence, AL) Copyright: 2002 Times Daily Contact: http://www.timesdaily.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1641 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n2152/a10.html Author: Robert Sharpe Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?155 (Drug Policy Alliance Staff) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) TOLERANCE NEEDED To the editor: The Nov. 22 article on the work of the Children's Policy Council in Lauderdale County contained excellent advice on preventing adolescent drug use. The importance of parental involvement in reducing drug use cannot be overstated. These days, concerned parents have more to fear from school-based zero tolerance drug policies than drugs themselves. According to the Monitoring the Future Survey, over half of all high school seniors have tried an illicit drug. Denying a majority of the nation's youth an education is not in America's best interest. Most teenagers outgrow their youthful indiscretions involving drugs. An arrest and criminal record, on the other hand, can be life shattering. After admitting to smoking pot (but not inhaling), former President Bill Clinton opened himself up to "soft on drugs" criticism. And thousands of Americans have paid the price in the form of shattered lives. More Americans went to prison or jail during the Clinton administration than during any past administration. As an admitted former drinker and alleged illicit drug user, President George W. Bush is also politically vulnerable when it comes to drugs. While youthful indiscretions didn't stop Clinton or Bush from assuming leadership positions, an arrest surely would have. The short-term health effects of politically incorrect drugs like marijuana are inconsequential compared to the long-term effects of criminal records. Drug abuse is bad, but the zero-tolerance drug war is worse. Robert Sharpe, Washington Editor's note: The writer is program officer for the Drug Policy Alliance, www.drugpolicy.org. - --- MAP posted-by: Jackl