Pubdate: Tue, 01 Mar 2005 Source: Oklahoman, The (OK) Copyright: 2005 The Oklahoma Publishing Co. Contact: http://www.oklahoman.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/318 Author: Norma Sapp Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05.n315.a12.html OBJECTION NOTED Regarding "$taggering; Mental health costs take heavy toll" (Our Views, Feb. 24): "$taggering" indeed is the financial cost of mental illness and substance abuse, as described in the editorial. In addition to the billions of dollars, our police officers are forced to chase and arrest sick people. This means officers are unable to focus on threats from drunken drivers and rapists. Even if the Legislature is wise enough to fund drug courts, current drug prohibition policy will still require the police to chase all drug users, not just the abusers. As a taxpayer and one who's afraid of drunken drivers, I object. Norma Sapp Norman - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin