Pubdate: Sat, 21 Oct 2000
Date: 10/21/2000
Source: Sacramento Bee (CA)
Author: Jerry Rhodd
Authors: Jerry Rhodd

Propostion 36 would provide $120 million a year for five years to help
divert people from prison to treatment. Notwithstanding the fact that
$120 million is only a fraction of the billions spent to prosecute and
warehouse people with addiction in prison, it also would save an
initial $450 million to $500 million in not having to build more prisons.

Addicts do not belong in prison. They belong in treatment. This
proposition takes the lessons learned from the drug court experiments
and applies them on a much larger scale.

Anything that makes substance abuse treatment more readily available
will save lives and taxpayers' money. This proposition needs your support.

Jerry Rhodd,
West Sacramento

Bookmark: For Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act items:
http://www.mapinc.org/prop36.htm