Not the duty of health officials to police our lives

THE COMMENT of Barbara Ferrer, executive director of the Boston Public Health Commission, that tobacco has no "redeeming value" is not only arrogant, but medically inaccurate ("High noon for cigarettes," Editorial, Sept. 7).

For her, smoking may have no value, but for almost 20 percent of American adults who are forced to endure social stigma, exposure to the elements, and punitive taxes to smoke, the habit apparently "at least in some ways" must be desirable.

Does Ferrer believe smokers are neither qualified nor entitled to make their own decisions?

In addition to the pleasure and sociability many persons derive from tobacco, nicotine has been demonstrated to elevate mood, ease anxiety, and improve concentration. For the mentally ill in particular, these effects are highly valuable. Nicotine has even been shown to ease some of the symptoms of schizophrenia.

It is the duty of public health officials to educate and protect the public. They are not authorized to run our lives or to misrepresent medical evidence.

STEPHEN HELFER
Cambridge