(UNEDITED)This is in response to Trentelman's September 19 article titled, "Banning Spice is a Bland Attempt at Controlling Drug Abuse." Mr. Trentelman is way off-base in his recent article regarding Ogden City's ban on Spice. He doesn't have his facts straight. He reported the City Council was "Urged on by the Weber-Morgan Narcotics Strike Force and an agent from the federal DEA," however his article failed to mention it was brought to the Council's attention by citizens such as myself at a neighborhood meeting that included nearly 200 other residents concerned about the substance. Your own newspaper and at least three television news agencies reported on this. It is irresponsible reporting to disregard this important fact.
It is fallacious to conclude that parents and other concerned residents have any delusions about whether or not a Spice ban will "make it impossible" for children to obtain the substance. No one made those remarks at any meetings I attended, and I have been involved every step of the way. In fact, no one I spoke to believes it will do any such thing. It will help, however.
While it is true that education and parental involvement is the best anti-drug, it nevertheless helps parents when government supports them by outlawing harmful substances.
It is wise not to discredit parents who saw danger in their community and acted. Doing so sends the message to children that their parents don't know what they are talking about. And that undermines everything we, as parents, work to accomplish in order to keep our communities and our children as free as possible from dangerous substances.
Dan J. Deuel
Ogden
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