Pubdate: Tue, 29 Jul 2003 Source: Maui News, The (HI) Contact: 2003 The Maui News Website: http://www.mauinews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2259 Author: Toni Waikiki KNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTANDING NEEDED TO COMBAT DRUG PROBLEMS A member of the community was outraged that a woman would be given a second chance at treatment just because she is pregnant (Letters, July 19) and said that all drug dealers and addicts deserve to be in jail because they need to "learn their lessons." I believe this attitude shows a lack of information about drug addictions. Drug addicts are people and all people deserve a second chance regardless of who they are. I am speaking from experience. Nine years ago someone decided that I deserved a second chance and that made a difference in my life. Today I am a working professional, a law-abiding citizen, and I pay taxes just like everyone else. I am a recovering alcoholic/addict. I believe this to be a pure miracle. We must not give up before the miracle happens. This second chance might be the miracle that this defendant and her unborn child are waiting for. Drug addicts and dealers are not ruining our towns. They are members of our community. Perhaps our towns are being ruined by the lack of education about the addictions in our community. Toni Waikiki Kihei - --- MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk