Don't Learn Statistics from this Man
26 April 2006
The Editor, New York Times
229 West 43rd St.
New York, NY 10036
To the Editor:
Odyssey House President Peter Provet says that "marijuana is a gateway drug that leads to the use of more dangerous drugs like cocaine and heroin" (Letters, April 26). His evidence? Most Odyssey House patients report using marijuana before they turned to harder drugs.
I'll bet my pension that most of these same patients, if asked, would report that they also started drinking alcohol and having sex before turning to harder drugs. Would Mr. Provet then argue that beer and orgasms are "gateway" experiences to the likes of cocaine and heroin?
Sincerely,
Donald J. Boudreaux
Chairman, Department of Economics
George Mason University
The Editor, New York Times
229 West 43rd St.
New York, NY 10036
To the Editor:
Odyssey House President Peter Provet says that "marijuana is a gateway drug that leads to the use of more dangerous drugs like cocaine and heroin" (Letters, April 26). His evidence? Most Odyssey House patients report using marijuana before they turned to harder drugs.
I'll bet my pension that most of these same patients, if asked, would report that they also started drinking alcohol and having sex before turning to harder drugs. Would Mr. Provet then argue that beer and orgasms are "gateway" experiences to the likes of cocaine and heroin?
Sincerely,
Donald J. Boudreaux
Chairman, Department of Economics
George Mason University
Posted by Don Boudreaux on
Thursday February 8, 2007 at 6:25am