Pubdate: Fri, 01 Dec 2006
Source: Red and Black, The (U of Georgia, GA Edu)
Copyright: 2006 The Red and Black Publishing Co., Inc.
Contact: http://apps.ugatoday.com/forms/letter.php
Website: http://www.redandblack.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2800
Author: Bethany Kirkpatrick

ATTACK PLAN FOR DRUG WAR IS IDEALISTIC

As heartbreaking as it is that police mistakenly shot 92-year-old 
Kathryn Johnston in a drug raid, we must realize that this is a freak 
accident, not the norm.

In response to this tragedy, Andrew Muchmore proposed reform to the 
war on drugs in his column on Wednesday. While his idealistic 
suggestions of "addiction treatment, education and economic 
opportunity" sound nice in theory, in reality they are impractical 
and ineffective.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons has already made drug treatment 
programs available to eligible inmates. Sadly, of the inmates who do 
opt for treatment, 20 percent will go back to drugs just six months 
later. As far as treatment, education and jobs go, they will never be 
effective unless drug offenders want to be helped. I'd even venture 
to say that a pretty large handful of drug offenders currently in 
prison are fully aware of both the moral and physical implications of 
drugs and may even have participated in a treatment program before.

Another interesting fact -- 60 to 83 percent of inmates have used 
drugs. Our prisons may be crowded with drug offenders, but people who 
use drugs are more likely to commit serious crimes. Incarcerating 
drug offenders is good preventative medicine.

Also, why is a drug dealer going to try to work to his way up from 
the bottom via some menial "economic opportunity" or try to compete 
in a job market when there is much more money to be made selling 
drugs? I knew a drug dealer who had a well-paying job, a nice house, 
children, etc. but opted to sell drugs for a living instead. Why? It's easier.

My little brother's friend died a month and a half ago of a drug 
overdose. He'd been in a treatment program before, attended school 
and even had a job this past summer. No one could have saved my 
brother's friend.

I have encountered firsthand what happens when drug dealers 
manipulate children. Do you know the shock that goes through your 
body when your little brother tells you that he does not remember the 
past month of his life because he was high for the duration of it?

The cops are doing the best they can, and starting at the source of 
the problem (i.e. busting down the door of a house where a drug deal 
allegedly took place) is the only way to have a fighting chance in 
the war against drugs.

You know, it is a cycle -- the dealers get hold of the kids, the kids 
get hooked, they see there's money to be made in selling their 
newfound toy and they keep doing it into adulthood if they don't get 
off drugs or caught.

The best we can do is to find a way to get the offenders off the 
streets and away from those who are still very impressionable.

My little brother's innocence has already been taken away from him, 
but if busting down a dealer's door means my stepsisters will not get 
involved in drugs, then let the cops carry on!
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