Pubdate: Thu, 11 Jul 2002 Source: Daily Telegraph (UK) Copyright: 2002 Telegraph Group Limited Contact: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/114 Author: Dr Jonathan Steel ENLIGHTENMENT OR OBLIVION? Sir - Psychoactive drugs are taken either to seek enlightenment or to seek oblivion. It is the individual taking the drug who is the problem, not the drug itself. Those who take drugs to seek oblivion do so to escape emotional insecurity. These people are vulnerable and it is the duty of any caring society to protect them. The pursuit of a more caring society is an honourable political goal that will not be achieved by a Government that abandons the vulnerable simply to reduce crime figures. From: Dr Jonathan Steel, Deputy Chairman, Stroud Conservative Association, Dursley, Glos - --- MAP posted-by: Derek