March 17, 2006
Friday

After reading Ms. Sizemore's letter, I felt I needed to respond. Her feelings about drug usage and that adults being far more prone to "using" is not only untrue, but outrageous. First, let me clear up a few things. Ms. Sizemore, you are a precious only 23 years of age. You have not gone through, nor have you probably had the opportunity to raise two or more teenagers and gone through any of the tribulations that go along with raising them. You are basically just coming out of your teenage years yourself, and cannot nor be expected to know all about this issue. I do however applaud your efforts in reading up on the sad fact that this country has a drug problem. Millions of dollars have been spent on the "War on Drugs", and I do feel it is worth it, whether you agree or not. Without it, there would be more chaos on the street than you can imagine. You apparently do not understand what it is used for. It has funded more police for the city streets, ports, and borders all over the USA to bust drugs coming into this country. Not to mention the local crack houses that pop up down the street in some unfortunate neighborhoods. That's just grazing the surface. Its not just some big bowl with a hole in it that money is just thrown into and wasted. It is used.

Your comment on "regulating" drugs just makes it more evident that you do not get what all this is about. Regulating drugs, illegal ones, is NOT the answer. It's the answer to those who love to abuse them, true. Just because something is illegal, and wrong, (for a reason) doesn't mean because it's hard to deal with you legalize it and say "ok go ahead!". What sort of message is that sending to our young people? Do you have children?? I am guessing not. If you did, you certainly would not be writing viewpoints like this. My two teenagers are far from perfect, but they are smart. The D.A.R.E. program didn't "show" them how to use, it showed them what drugs do to you. They have experimented, and have been busted by me. The answer to all this? PARENTS. THE ANTI-DRUG. Know where your kids are, call and check on where they are saying they are going, strictly enforce a curfew. It's called showing you love them. I'm not saying they aren't going to slip up, they are kids.

However, I'm also not going to sit back and watch people like you, at a mere 23 years of age tell ME you think adults are the ones with the drug problems, that the DARE program is wrong, and that we as a nation have done nothing but waste money on the War on Drugs! I'm very proud to say my kids are going to graduate and go to college WITH their brains, and know what the right choices are..... because that is what it comes down too. Where do they get that? Not from anyone but their parents. You as a parent have to be a positive impact in their life to see them survive in this world we live in today. It's hard enough being a parent as it is, without having to deal with stupid answers to problems like the one you posted here. Legalize it and it will all be fine?? Give me a break! That is a cowards way out.

Kara (McElroy) Steele
Kenai, AK - USA

About: Mother of 2 teens, 18 and 17. Kara McElroy Steele is a 37 yr resident of Alaska, 31 years spent in Ketchikan. Both teenagers have been through the D.A.R.E. Program, and have done well with it.

Related Viewpoint:

Adults far more likely to abuse drugs By Samantha Sizemore - Ketchikan, AK - USA

 

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