ADDICTION NOT AN EXCUSE

]Judge Leon Stanback need make no apologies for packing Steven Earl Riggs
off to prison for committing a number of crimes under the influence of
cocaine ("Repeat offender gets 2-year term," July 21). We who work in the
field of addiction prevention and treatment do not look at alcohol or drug
addiction as any excuse or extenuating circumstance for criminal behavior.

Addiction is a disease, but criminal behavior is a choice. We believe
criminals need to pay a price for their crimes, but we believe that all
people who have a problem with alcohol or other drugs need to be afforded
an opportunity to receive effective treatment whether they are criminal or not.

Research has shown that individuals coerced into treatment by the courts,
through employee assistance programs, or by threat of divorce have an equal
success rate in the same treatment program as those who are not coerced.
Durham has many residents who can attest to the fact that coercion works.

Durham needs to strengthen its court-related addiction treatment programs.
People referred to treatment need to be held accountable through an
effective, immediate communications system among the courthouse, probation
and treating agencies. Treatment providers need to be kept to high
standards and track outcomes.

When we see effective addiction treatment and clients and programs held
accountable, people like Steven Earl Riggs will be going off to their jobs
and participating in society rather than going off to prison at the
taxpayers' expense.

The writer is executive director of the Alcohol/Drug Council of North
Carolina, based in Durham.

TONY MULVIHILL Durham July 24, 2001