DRUG TREATMENT FACILITIES NEEDED IN NEIGHBORHOODS

Re: "Drug policy shift" (Editorial, April 11):

Residential drug treatment facilities in residential neighborhoods is an
idea whose time has come, and two observations immediately come to mind:

Such facilities should be located in relatively affluent neighborhoods. You
are correct about the difficulty of siting facilities there, but let's not
be put off by that. The treatment need in such neighborhoods never has been
seriously considered, because we have focused on treatment for poor addicts
instead.

Such facilities also should be tied in with the president's funding
initiative for religious groups that render community services. Church
groups in affluent communities could provide and supervise treatment
facilities for residents of those areas who are addicted and in need of
treatment.

Leadership and success in affluent neighborhoods also would make it easier
and more inviting for church groups in other areas to join and establish
facilities for their residents.

James Varnadore, City Heights