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