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Sources of Addiction

Michael Lemonick and Alice Park examined the addictions many of us struggle with every day [July 16]. Society often labels alcoholics and other addicts as moral failures, despite medical evidence to the contrary. The sad truth is that the active addict may experience a physical, psychological or even spiritual high and no longer make healthy, rational decisions. With the help of the medical community and support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous, addicts can manage their disease.

Michele Rugo, MURPHYS, CALIF.

Aa the neuroscientist who discovered vigabatrin for drug addiction, I was extremely pleased with the breadth and accuracy of "The Science of Addiction." The use of vigabatrin as a potential treatment for drug addiction derives directly from advances made in nuclear medicine imaging research at Brookhaven National Laboratory. If successful, its impact will be felt worldwide. Continued political support and financial investment in scientific research are vital to maintaining our way of life and that of those to follow after we're gone.

Stephen L. Dewey, MANORVILLE, N.Y.

There is a very large gap between recognizing how addiction looks on a brain scan and developing therapies that are effective enough to safely abolish addictive behavior. Brain scans will someday lead to improved therapy, but not for many years to come.

David P. Vernon, TUCSON, ARIZ.

Scooting Away from Justice

In "Easy Commute," Richard Lacayo suggested that President George W. Bush commuted the sentence of I. Lewis (Scooter) Libby, a member of the Bush inner circle, because Bush had nothing to lose [July 16]. But there could be a more sinister reason. With a commuted sentence, Libby can plead the Fifth Amendment in future testimony. This whole affair smells. The Bush Administration has taken politics from the gutter into the sewers.

Stephen H. Weentland, HOUSTON

The prosecutor in Libby's case said, "It is fundamental to the rule of law that all citizens stand before the bar of justice as equals." Bush's commutation suggests three things: the President believes there is another class of citizen in the U.S., cronyism trumps justice and the President condones perjury as well as the obstruction of justice when it's convenient and helpful to his Administration.

Terry Sandquist, HUTCHINSON, MINN.

I'm glad Bush commuted Libby's sentence. There are too many people in U.S. prisons already. Besides, I don't feel any less safe with Scooter remaining loose and weird on the streets. But if I were somehow complicit in exposing the identity of a U.S. secret agent to our enemies during a time of war I would be called a traitor and duckwalked to an electric chair, gas chamber or some form of lethal injection.

Sterling Greenwood, ASPEN, COLO.

Lacayo's article nailed it: Bush's reputation is so low that he has "nothin' left to lose" in letting Libby off the hook. But while Janis Joplin's powerful performance of Me and Bobby McGee knocked it out of the park, let's give Kris Kristofferson credit for composing the classic words of that poetic song.

Jerry Evans, DUANE LAKE, N.Y.

Ann the Man?

Re Ann Coulter's declarations that she's "more of a man than any liberal" [July 16]: She might have more testosterone than any liberal if that means making ignorant statements. But what she severely lacks, like any bully, is courage.

Jerry McWilliams, LITTLETON, COLO.