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 - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D