Pubdate: Sun, 26 Jun 2005
Source: Muskogee Daily Phoenix (OK)
Copyright: 2005 Muskogee Daily Phoenix
Contact: http://www.muskogeephoenix.com/customerservice/contactus.html
Website: http://www.muskogeephoenix.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3319
Author: Kevin Eversole
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?199 (Mandatory Minimum Sentencing)

OVERCOMING DRUG STORIES DO HAPPEN

I think it truly wonderful that our hometown newspaper shows the good 
things that can happen when a person tries to turn their life around from 
drug abuse.

Society has a misconception that once a person becomes a drug user that 
they will always be a user. This thought process is the backbone of the 
"mandatory-minimum, lock-them-up" mentality.

We must never forget that treatment can help users break the destructive 
cycle that accompanies addiction.

I often wonder if the mandatory-minimum folks know that costs around 
$30,000 to house an inmate for a year. For the same amount of money, a 
person could be sent through a quality private treatment program not once, 
but twice.

Let's save our prison spaces for the violent and those who prey upon children.

KEVIN EVERSOLE

Muskogee
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