Pubdate: Thu, 19 Jan 2006 Source: Salt Lake Tribune (UT) Copyright: 2006 The Salt Lake Tribune Contact: http://www.sltrib.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/383 Author: Mike Buchanan, Salt Lake City Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment) TREATMENT AND PUNISHMENT I heartily agree with Robert Sharpe's Jan. 20 letter calling for treatment and not prison for drug addicts. The contradiction with this philosophy is that only a percentage of addicts are sent to prison. They do get there eventually when they 1) break your car window and hijack your stereo for money to buy methamphetamine, 2) rob a retail store to sustain their habit, 3) invade your home for the same reason, 4) steal identities to make money for drugs, or 5) commit assaults and violent acts when obtaining or distributing drugs. The drug addict does not exist in a vacuum. A mixture of treatment and punishment seems to be in order. Mike Buchanan Salt Lake City - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman