SHOULD DRUGS BE LEGALIZED?

The author of Abortion: Facing the Issues (1988) tackles another thorny ethical dilemma: The drug war is a Sisyphean task, yet we keep trying--is it time for something new? Mature readers can make their own judgments after examining these crime figures, case studies of regulation, comparisons with other legal drugs, and--of particular interest--a panorama of drug use through history. But Terkel does more than compile statistics: she also suggests practical alternatives, such as reversing the current expenditure ratios on enforcement and education. While tilting a bit more toward legalization than is currently popular, she is evenhanded and thorough, provoking thought on whether drug use is ""a right or a ridiculous idea"" and providing ample ammunition to change any previous persuasion. Chronology, extensive source notes & bibliography; glossary; index.