len Lewers (War on substance abuse of April 11, Sooke News MIrror) is right, let’s just all join together to encourage our children to make healthy choices for their bodies and minds. She should keep in mind though that posing rhetorical commentary as questions, however well intentioned, solves nothing.
Let’s start that by being honest about the counter-productivity of the anti-drug strategy, the illogic of criminalizing health issues, and the damage lies perpetuating it (the criminalizing of drugs) has done. Let’s not lead our children down the same garden path Whitney Houston and countless others were led. The outcome, for the most part, never varies.
The reality is kids do need to be encouraged to make smart, healthy choices, if, for no other reason than to be forewarned about the quagmire that currently exists, and how it came about. In short, kids need to be told the truth about substances, supported and encouraged by educators, health care professionals and parents as is deemed appropriate (by the aforementioned).
Wayne Phillips
Hamilton, Ont.