Today a lot of people say the war on drugs is futile, despite bold programs to fight drug abuse.

Among the people who believe the war cannot be won are those who advocate the legalization of drugs. I'm not so sure our society could cope with the problems that would result if drugs were legal.

While I do not even begin to think that I have the solution to the drug crisis I know legalization is not the answer.

On campuses across the country, thousands of alcohol-related date rapes occur each year. Just think for a moment about the women and children that are assaulted and abused by drunken husbands or fathers. Imagine what someone strung out on legal cocaine or heroine would do in the above situations.

Another point to consider is drunk driving. Think of the menace that drivers on cocaine would pose to the rest of the drivers on the road.

On CNN Headline News Sunday night, the New York City Police Department reported that cocaine was involved in 25 percent of the city's automobile accidents.

During the same report an anonymous woman who had been arrested for drunk driving added that while she drove slowly and cautiously when she was drunk, she drove fast and recklessly when under the effects of cocaine.

By 1995, 5 percent of all babies born in New York City will need intensive care for drug addiction passed on through the mother if current drug abuse trends continued, according to the a report by the New York State Board of Health.

Proponents of legalizing drugs usually raise three points to support their arguments. One is that the legalization of drugs would remove the crime element from the drug trade.

Legalizing the drug trade would make all the drug traffickers legitimate businessmen. Consequently, we might have companies similar to the alcohol industry, an Anheuser-Busch of cocaine perhaps.

However, one aspect of drug crime would likely increase. By legalizing drugs we would make them far more accessible to more people. In turn, an increased number of addicts could more easily continue their addictions.

Drug-related crime would shift from drug trafficking to addicts trying to raise cash for their habits. A Los Angeles Times article last year reported that police had arrested 115 suspects selling stolen goods to pay for their habits. The addicts were so desperate for cash that undercover police officers were able to buy stolen Porsches and Mercedes-Benzes for as little as $400.

Another report from The Washington Post last February conclusively linked violent behavior to drug use. Dr. Mark Gold, who runs a national help hotline for cocaine addicts, reported that heroine users resort to violence in order to support their habits and crack users often become violent while using the drug.

The second point is that by putting a large tax on legal drugs the government would receive revenue it currently does not have.

Suppose we do legalize drugs and tax them as some people suggest. Then millions, perhaps billions, of dollars of tax revenue roll into the government treasuries. It makes economic sense to legalize drugs -- or does it?

Think how much new money the government would have to pour into rehabilitation centers to help cure the addicts. In 1990 roughly 30 percent of the eight billion dollars allocated to fight the drug war went into rehabilitation. What would the costs be for a nation whose drugs were legal?

Last year the Post reported that health costs for American companies were up 20 percent, due largely to payments for alcohol and drug rehabilitation.

Ask yourself how we would prevent children from wanting to try and then abusing drugs. When I pose this question, people who support legalization propose an age much like the drinking age.

In theory it's great, but so is the drinking age. The drinking age doesn't seem to be keeping alcohol from people under 21.

The final point I always hear is how jammed our courts are and how the courts can't cope with the current number of cases.

I agree that the courts would take far fewer cases if drugs were legalized, but at what cost to society?

There are just too many problems with legalization. I have only scratched the surface regarding the possible repercussions of legal drugs.

Would it be illegal for pregnant women to use drugs? If in 1995 5 percent of all babies are born addicts what would the percentage be if drugs were legalized before then?

Today cocaine, heroine and crack are ruining lives and crushing dreams. On top of that a newer more damaging drug "ice" has already reached epidemic proportions in Honolulu and has moved into New York City. Its high lasts much longer than crack and has damaging psychological effects.

The war on drugs will take time and cost billions of dollars, but we cannot afford to give in. How many people like Len Bias must die before we realize the threat that drugs pose?