Pubdate: Sat, 09 Nov 2002
Source: Post and Courier, The (Charleston, SC)
Copyright: 2002 Evening Post Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.mapinc.org/media/567
Website: http://www.charleston.net/index.html
Author: Wyndi Anderson
Cited: South Carolina Advocates for Pregnant Women http://www.scapw.org/
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02.n2052.a06.html

DRUG TREATMENT

Monday's story on the Regina McKnight case quoted government officials 
saying that the policy of arresting drug-addicted pregnant women is a 
treatment-based or "amnesty" program.

One fact must be made clear - Regina McKnight was never offered drug treatment.

If you review her hospital records and her arrest records, there is no 
mention of drug treatment being offered. As a matter of fact, the Conway 
Hospital Protocol does not have any mention of treatment, only how to 
arrest a woman based on a positive urine test.

I tried my best to find drug treatment in Horry County for Ms. McKnight to 
no avail.

I believe the people of South Carolina want drug treatment for 
drug-addicted pregnant women, but they need to know the truth about South 
Carolina's current policy: When you arrest someone, it is not treatment and 
it is not amnesty.

In this case, it is using the criminal justice system to warehouse another 
person with a drug problem in our prison system.

WYNDI ANDERSON, Executive Director, S.C. Advocates for Pregnant Women, 171 
Church St.
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