Pubdate: Sat, 02 Dec 2000
Source: Baltimore Sun (MD)
Copyright: 2000 The Baltimore Sun, a Times Mirror Newspaper.
Contact:  501 N. Calvert Street P.0. Box 1377 Baltimore, MD 21278
Fax: (410) 315-8912
Website: http://www.sunspot.net/
Forum: http://www.sunspot.net/cgi-bin/ultbb/Ultimate.cgi?action=intro
Author: Dr. Robert L. DuPont
(The writer was the first director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse.)

DON'T ABANDON PAROLE REFORM

I commend The Sun for the impressive investigation that revealed the 
failures of the Break the Cycle program to monitor nonviolent but 
drug-using offenders and provide swift, certain and graduated 
punishments for all violations of the program's tough no-drug-use 
standard ("Lieutenant governor hijacks probation," editorial, Nov. 
20).

But the implication that Break the Cycle should be scrapped was way 
off the mark. Break the Cycle deserves substantially increased 
resources and stronger administrative support to fulfill its 
potential as a national model for the criminal justice system.

The Sun's suggestion that the continuation of Break the Cycle be 
conditioned on the provision of "adequate drug treatment" is also off 
the mark.

Break the Cycle is a system to enforce the prohibition of illegal 
drug use. It will work with or without additional drug treatment. 
What it needs is a foolproof system of drug testing, linked to 
certain punishments for positive or missed drug tests.

As the new president prepares to take office, whether it be Texas 
Gov. George W. Bush or Vice President Al Gore, the only initiative 
that could substantially cut U.S. demand for illicit drugs is a 
national effort similar to Break the Cycle.

The Sun's investigations have shown that good ideas alone do not get 
the job done. That is a major public service.

Let us not, however, abandon a truly promising idea that can win 
broad support across the political spectrum because of solvable 
administrative problems.
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MAP posted-by: Josh Sutcliffe