National Guard sends mixed drug message

Editor,

Last week's Leader carried a photo of National Guardsmen visiting Polson High School in a helicopter. The brief caption mentioned Guardsmen discussing the drug ecstasy as part of their drug reduction effort.

The photo was interesting on several points. It reflects a change in recruitment strategies to pair national defense to traditional policing powers. This presents a convenient distraction from the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts.

On Feb. 17, the Guardian newspaper carried a story by science correspondent David Adam. This article, entitled "Ecstasy trials for combat stress," discusses recent FDA approval for studies in South Carolina using ecstasy to treat post-traumatic stress disorder.

The uncomfortable truth about this situation is that teenagers enlisting in the Guard to fight narcotics are more likely to be sent to the Middle East and eventually receive those same narcotics to cope with the aftermath of combat.

I consider this scenario as one more example of living in Bush World.

David Daniels

Ronan, MT