Pubdate: Wed, 19 May 2010
Source: Merritt Herald (CN BC)
Copyright: 2010 Merritt Herald
Contact:  http://www.merrittherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1446
Author: David Lane

MOST PEOPLE DO NOT GET ADDICTED TO DRUGS

Dear Editor,

Your publication is mistaken about addiction.

The majority of people do not become addicted to drugs.

When all drugs were legally and cheaply available less than four per
cent of the population was considered drug addicts.

Drugs do not possess supernatural powers to destroy free
will.

A small percentage of people are susceptible to addiction.

This is mostly like a genetic predisposition, but it could be
influenced by environmental factors.

While addiction is not well understood, we do know that the sequence
of events you portray as inevitable for anyone who uses drugs does not
happen with well over 90 per cent of the population.

David Lane,

Tampa, Florida
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake