Need a change

Dear Editor,

In response to Mr. McPhillips' letter of July 1:

I am neither a "doper" nor a person who makes a living as a drug legalization lobbyist. I am the mother of four, the Gamma of four. I am a nurse of 32 years who has invested the last 13 years working in the fields of HIV/AIDS, homelessness, and substance use as a street nurse -- much of it in small towns in middle America.

My interest in drug policy reform lies completely in my desire to stop HIV and Hepatitis C infection and to support substance users in taking steps toward positive change. My roots, my life, and my work are firmly planted in the Midwest.

U.S. drug policy is hurting people and costing our society in ways that are unacceptable.

Whether in Zwingle, Iowa, Chicago, Ill., or McCook, Neb., this is true. It's time to consider new ways of addressing substance use.

Elizabeth Wehrman,

BSN, RN, Street Nurse,

LeClaire, Iowa