WHY JAIL ADDICTS?

We do not think the solution to alcohol addiction is prison, so why do we
think that prison is the answer to narcotics addiction? What is the value
to society of spending thousands of dollars annually locking up someone
like Robert Downey Jr.? Is there any evidence his addiction is harming
anyone other than himself? There is ample evidence that putting him in jail
has done nothing for his addiction. So, should we just lock him up for life?

Doug Rushing
Kansas City