DEA wrong; drug use still should be target

Drug Enforcement Administration head Thomas Constantine recently made the claim that America has neither the resources not the resolve to burb the flow of illegal drugs into the United States.

The "drug war," as it has been dubbed, has been aimed at keeping drugs out of America, by targeting the manufacturers and distributors of these drugs.

But if we wish to suppress the circulation of illegal drugs in America, we must concentrate our resources on preventing the purchase and sue of drugs by our citizens. Awareness programs, increased enforcement of drug laws, and the support of general anti-drug sentiments among America's people are the only practical prevention methods.

Our efforts are wasted when used against drug manufacturers. That aspect of the war is not being held on our turf, and we are completely outnumbered. The key to winning the drug war remains in our society, by keeping drugs out of our own citizens' hands.