Pubdate: Tue, 19 Feb 2002
Source: Tallahassee Democrat (FL)
Copyright: 2002 Tallahassee Democrat.
Contact:  http://www.tdo.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/444
Author: Bill Cotterell, Democrat Senior Writer

JEB BUSH: 'I KNOW THE ANGUISH'

"I know what you're going through."

It's a message Gov. Jeb Bush said he and his wife hear dozens of times 
every day, from friends and strangers at all levels of society. Since their 
daughter, Noelle, was arrested on a prescription-fraud charge Jan. 29, the 
governor said his family has heard from hundreds of people who have seen 
friends, relatives and co-workers struggle with drugs - or who have been 
there themselves.

Bush spoke haltingly and guardedly Monday at a meeting of his drug-policy 
advisory commission, sensitive to his family's privacy but emphasizing the 
importance of prevention, rehabilitation and "consequence" in combating 
drugs. His voice trailing off in midsentence, he seemed to alternate 
between policy-maker and father.

"As you all know, my family has faced this issue - I'm not going to talk 
about that - but because of the, to put it politely, additional publicity 
that was brought to my own family, a day does not go by - in fact, an hour 
doesn't go by - that someone doesn't come up to me and say, 'I know what 
you're going through,' " Bush said.

"These are doctors and lawyers and accountants, people of all walks of 
life, people of all races and colors and creeds. This is not something you 
can isolate to one part of our society."

After the meeting, Bush told reporters, "I know the anguish - I can see 
people in crowds and I can see the look. When we talk about these things I 
can just . . . I can look at people's eyes and know that they've gone 
through something similar."

Members of the drug policy council - made up of educators, counselors, 
law-enforcement officials, health officials and other experts - listened 
intently to Bush's rare public discussion of Noelle Bush's situation. They 
asked no questions, but some members praised Bush for restoring budget cuts 
in probation and rehabilitation services, drug courts and other education 
and rehabilitation programs.

"I want to pay tribute to my wife on this," Bush said. Columba Bush had 
been active in talking with parent groups and schools about drugs long 
before her daughter's arrest.

"It's not easy for her to get up and talk about these things, to speak from 
the heart. She's shy, first of all, more reserved," he said. "She's not a 
politician, thank goodness. . . . She's a great partner on this."

Bush's top drug-policy adviser, Jim McDonough, said the number of drug 
courts in Florida has nearly doubled, from 38 to 75, during Bush's 
administration. He praised the governor and Columba Bush for their advocacy 
of prevention education, rehabilitation and enforcement.

As he left the meeting, Bush said his daughter is doing well in 
rehabilitation. She waived her right to a speedy trial and, upon completion 
of the rehabilitation program, she will likely be sent to drug court. If 
she's successful in that program, charges will likely be dismissed.

"I think she's in better shape because of the fact she went through the 
drug court system and knows that in spite of whatever the ailment is that 
afflicts her, she's got to confront it now," Bush said. "Addictions are a 
very powerful thing, and it takes over people's lives, and that's why good 
treatment programs are important."

Noelle Bush, 24, was arrested at a pharmacy drive-through window in 
Tallahassee at 1:30 a.m. Jan. 29 on charges of trying to buy Xanax with a 
fraudulent prescription. It is a third-degree felony with maximum penalty 
of five years in prison and a $5,000 fine, but no first offenders get the 
maximum.

"I know being involved in this as a dad . . . how pervasive this is," the 
governor said, "and how when you love somebody and they're going through 
tough times, how it just sucks the life out of a family."
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager