Pubdate: Sat, 02 Apr 2005
Source: Lexington Herald-Leader (KY)
Copyright: 2005 Lexington Herald-Leader
Contact:  http://www.kentucky.com/mld/heraldleader/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/240
Author: Cynthia Studer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?159 (Drug Courts)

REHABILITATION IS REWARD

In response to Gary L. Tracy's March 26 letter, "Change the law":

The letter writer apparently has only secondhand information. No one is 
rewarded or encouraged to smoke crack cocaine. Crack is a national problem, 
an addiction that is found everywhere.

It's wonderful when a child born to an addicted woman has a chance to be 
with a good family while the mother is on the mend. Sure, the baby does go 
through withdrawal, but that doesn't mean the child will become an addict 
later in life.

That's like saying that any child of an alcoholic will be one, too. Not true.

Letter writers should get their facts straight before they jump into a 
topic. Should the mother go to jail instead of rehabilitation? No; that's 
what drug court is for. Jail alone does nothing to help and can make 
matters worse. The only reward is in the fact that the woman can overcome 
her addiction and be a good mother.

Cynthia Studer

Lexington
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