Pubdate: Wed, 22 Feb 2006 Source: Windsor Star (CN ON) Copyright: 2006 The Windsor Star Contact: http://www.canada.com/windsor/windsorstar/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/501 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n205/a10.html Author: Robert Woodrich ADDICTS NEED TO BE HELPED, NOT THROWN IN JAIL Re: Tougher Sentences Needed From Courts. The author of the letter needs to open her eyes and realize that jail is not the answer when it comes to those who abuse their bodies with illegal substances. First of all, you criticize courts for sentencing drug abusers (and not dealers, whom you should be focusing on) to house arrest and recommend instead a prison sentence. You speak for the taxpayers, yet fail to account for the opinion of many of your fellow taxpayers who understand that prison is meant for serious criminals and not the unfortunate human being who saw no other way to cope with his or her problems than by abusing drugs, not unlike an alcoholic. For example, what would happen if courts decided to lock up and throw away the key on someone addicted to crack cocaine? Not only would this individual still have access to crack cocaine within the prison system, but they would now have no reason to quit as all of their potential to be reintegrated into society would have vanished. I could go on, telling you how cigarette companies have affected the lives of far more Canadians than your local teenage pot dealer (or all dealers combined) or how getting the undesirable off the streets for good would only lead to an authoritarian state and not the better society you speak of, but you should have already known this before publicly announcing your opinion. Allow me to suggest that only continued rehabilitation for those already addicted, and better schooling, social services and parenting available to those who could potentially become addicted can be effective. Violence and punishment with no positive outcome will change nothing. ROBERT WOODRICH Windsor - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman