Pubdate: Fri, 26 Jan 2001
Source: Des Moines Register (IA)
Copyright: 2001 The Des Moines Register.
Contact:  P.O. Box 957, Des Moines IA 50304-0957
Fax: (515) 284-8560
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Website: http://www.dmregister.com/
Author: Ray Dominick
Section: Letters To The Editor

DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT WITH DRUG USERS

The Jan. 19 columns by George Will, "Colombian Drug War," and David 
Klinger, "Former Cop: Make  Drugs Legal for Adults," are reminders of how 
miserably we have failed in the effort to abate the  flow of illegal drugs 
into the country.

Even in Iowa, the drug offenders serving time in prison have doubled in the 
last five years and  no doubt will double again in the next few years.

There has to come a time when legislators approach this problem in some 
other way than just  building more prisons.

The results of drug rehabilitation programs in Arizona, New York, Maryland 
and other states for  non-violent offenders have been encouraging. In lieu 
of jail time, these states are showing that probation, treatment and 
testing are effective tools in helping those who are drug dependent. 
And  it is certainly cheaper than incarceration.

We need to stop ruining lives, and accelerate the effort to prevent and 
treat drug use.

- -Ray Dominick
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