PRESIDENT SHOULD DO MORE TO HELP THOSE RECOVERING FROM ADDICTION

President Bush recently discussed his struggles against alcohol
addiction with former prisoners in recovery who are enrolled in
Jericho, a program to help them reenter productively into society.
Bush recounted having given up alcohol the day after his 40th
birthday, after a "particularly boozy night." He often credits his
Christian faith for giving him the strength to stay sober.

Although his presidency is almost over, it's not too late for Bush to
do more good as a role model and advocate for people recovering from addiction.

Bush, Al Gore III, Rush Limbaugh and Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy all
remind us that anyone can be susceptible to drug problems; addiction
does not discriminate. Unfortunately, our drug policies do. Despite
similar rates of drug use, blacks go to jail at 13 times the rate of
whites. In New York state, 91 percent of the people incarcerated
under the Rockefeller drug laws are black or Hispanic - grossly
disproportionate to their share of the population or involvement in
illegal drug use and sales. Too often, treatment is reserved for the
privileged, jail for the poor.

Almost every family in America has had to deal with drug addiction or
has experienced collateral damage from the drug war. George W. Bush
is not the only Bush to have had serious problems with addiction. His
niece, Noelle Bush, was arrested for trying to fill a fake
prescription for Xanax. While in a treatment program, she was busted
for crack cocaine.

Fortunately for her, she was able to get help without being forced to
spend years behind bars. Millions of other people without money or
powerful connections are not as lucky. Millions nationwide have a
loved one behind bars on drug charges, and millions more have
struggled themselves with addiction to illegal or legal drugs. By
declaring a war on drugs, we have declared a war on ourselves.

Bush was able to give up his drinking cold turkey and used his faith
to help himself. Millions use abstinence programs such as Alcoholics
Anonymous when trying to give up drugs. Some people give up one
addiction, such as heroin, but hold on to another, perhaps smoking
marijuana or cigarettes. Many people who quit a drug will relapse one
or more times before finding the strength to quit again. There are
many pathways and strategies for dealing with an addiction. There is
no one-size-fits-all approach.

Bush's words of encouragement to the men he encountered at Jericho
were well-intentioned. But actions are better than words, and the
government could do a few things that would make a huge difference in
the lives of drug offenders.

One would think that Bush's personal struggles would prompt him to
advocate treatment over jail and punishment. "Addiction is hard to
overcome," Bush told the former offenders, and that's true. But maybe
it would be a little easier if the government put more resources into
treatment. According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy,
only 35 percent of the federal drug-control budget is spent on
education, prevention and treatment combined, with the remaining 65
percent devoted to law-enforcement efforts.

Our drug policies have helped the United States become the world
leader in incarceration. We have 5 percent of the world's population
but 25 percent of all the world's prisoners, with more than 2.3
million in prisons and jails - more per capita than Russia, Belarus
or China. Of that 2.3 million, about 500,000 are incarcerated on drug charges.

I appreciate Bush's opening up and sharing his struggles with drug
addiction. (Yes, alcohol is a drug.) It is helpful to remind people
that addiction is an issue that so many of us have had to deal with -
that spares no one.

I just wish that his personal experiences would give him the wisdom
and courage to advocate generous and caring drug policies for everyone.