TREATMENT IS BETTER THAN JAIL FOR DRUG AND ALCOHOL OFFENDERS

DRUG and alcohol abuse is one of the most significant threats to the health
and wealth of our nation.

The Justice Policy Institute reports that from 1980 to 1997 the number of
drug offenses increased 11-fold; and in California the percentage of
citizens locked up for drug offenses is higher than in any other state.

Those facts evidence our losing the war on drugs. Experience and scientific
research indicates that the taxpayer-financed war on drugs waged through
the criminal justice system could more effectively be battled by the public
health system, through cost-effective prevention and treatment programs.

On the Nov. 7 ballot, California voters have an opportunity to mandate
substance abuse treatment for first-time, nonviolent offenders and require
$120 million in state funds be expended to operate drug and alcohol
treatment, job training, family counseling and substance abuse prevention
programs.

Violent offenders or those convicted for the sale or manufacture of illegal
drugs would not be eligible for this diversion.

Proposition 36, the Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act, would enhance
public safety by reducing drug-related crime and reserve more costly jail
and prison beds for violent offenders. According to the state Legislative
Analyst's Office, Proposition 36 could result in a net savings of $315
million for state and local taxpayers, as well as one-time avoidance of
$550 million in prison and jail construction.

San Mateo County is one of many counties that have established a drug court
as a powerful and valuable early intervention tool that combines sanctions
with treatment.

However, drug courts are already overburdened and are limited in their
capacity. If enacted, Proposition 36 would divert first-time offenders to
community treatment and early intervention services, thereby enabling drug
courts to shift their focus to more complex cases that require greater
structure and the sanctions available through the criminal justice system.

There is overwhelming scientific evidence that treatment works. It reduces
crime, increases worker productivity, improves community quality of life
and is cost-effective.

For every $1 spent on alcohol and drug treatment, $7.46 is saved in crime,
health care and welfare costs.

According to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, 81
percent of inmates in California state prisons have a drug or alcohol
addiction problem. Proposition 36 would result in treatment programs,
rather than more costly correctional facilities, for offenders of
nonviolent crimes where the "offender" is really the only victim.

In California there are an estimated 46,000 nonviolent adult substance
abuse offenders that are currently incarcerated or on parole. California
taxpayers annually spend $34,000 per prison inmate and $25,500 per county
jail inmate, as compared to less than $8,000 per K-12 student.

RATHER than building more prisons and jails and hiring more guards, lawyers
and probation officers, California tax dollars would be better spent on
early intervention, required treatment and prevention programs that better
educate and equip our communities to win the war on drugs.

The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors unanimously supports voter
approval of Proposition 36 on the Nov. 7 ballot to fund the public health
system war against the devastating effects of alcohol and drug abuse on
individuals, our families, the community and the nation.

Mike Nevin is a San Mateo County supervisor.