DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT WITH DRUG USERS

The Jan. 19 columns by George Will, "Colombian Drug War," and David
Klinger, "Former Cop: Make Drugs Legal for Adults," are reminders of how
miserably we have failed in the effort to abate the flow of illegal drugs
into the country.

Even in Iowa, the drug offenders serving time in prison have doubled in the
last five years and no doubt will double again in the next few years.

There has to come a time when legislators approach this problem in some
other way than just building more prisons.

The results of drug rehabilitation programs in Arizona, New York, Maryland
and other states for non-violent offenders have been encouraging. In lieu
of jail time, these states are showing that probation, treatment and
testing are effective tools in helping those who are drug dependent.
And it is certainly cheaper than incarceration.

We need to stop ruining lives, and accelerate the effort to prevent and
treat drug use.

- -Ray Dominick