To the Editor:

Choices! Choices! Choices! Where do you draw the line? I'm talking about the line on the highway. I'm addressing those of you leaving the bars, "friends' " homes, parties or whereever, either drunk, high or both. That's where the choice stops! When you put others at risk by impaired judgment, you choose death. It has been proved that a "couple drinks" or a "joint" will put you into this category. I prefer not to share the road with you.

Instead of slapping the "drunks" and "druggies" on the hands and letting the lawyers get them off, we need to slap them in jail. Keep them off the roads and possibly see them start recovery with rehab while locked up. After all, a captive audience is more apt to listen. Hearts seem to be more open in jail. Did you ever notice how that is?

There is absolutely no place for leniency when a person has impaired judgment by choice. If you must get drunk or high — stay home! Stay out of my way! Get a bike, get some help, get out of denial, get Jesus into your heart. Try asking for help from him for starters. Then get a life!

There are several other places to turn for help, such as Alcoholics or Narcotics Anonymous, Straight Road Recovery (815-674-2998) or Streator Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition (815-672-6309). Don't wait until you either kill or impair another person to get help. Try living with that!

Eliminating alcohol and illegal drug use period would be the ideal solution, but once again we mustn't forget the choices.

I will continue to keep praying that the laws will keep getting stricter and the penalties and law enforcement more severe!

Choose help, choose Jesus, choose health, choose to be a good role model to your kids and your family and friends, choose your friends wisely — choose life! What better choices could you make?



CHRIS ALLISON,

Streator