RIGHT MOVE ON ADDICTS

The state House acted responsibly last week when it approved a bill to
allow felony drug offenders in drug treatment to receive food stamps.

Under federal law, felony drug offenders are denied permission to
participate in food-stamp programs in the welfare system. But the law also
allows states to opt out of that restriction, and Tennessee is right to do so.

The premise of the legislation is to assist families, not ease up on
punishment for crimes. Even under the new standards, anyone convicted of
the most serious felonies or convicted of hate crimes is ineligible. But
many offenders in drug treatment programs are honestly trying to kick the
habit and raise children at the same time. The reality is that many of
those offenders are mothers with little income. Trying to get their lives
and those of their children straightened out without the assistance of food
stamps is virtually impossible. They deserve a chance to pull themselves up.

It still won't be easy for those people. They must either have completed or
be participating in a drug treatment plan approved by the Department of
Human Services, or be on a waiting list to get into the program. And the
offender has to have met the obligations spelled out by the criminal court.
The concept is that if offenders will do their part to clean up their act,
the state will meet them halfway.

Without the incentive, drug addicts may feel their cause is so hopeless
because of financial considerations that they give up on trying to get off
drugs. If they can see a light at the end of the tunnel, they are much more
likely to meet their obligations. Contrary to what many people believe,
drug offenders often do want to sober up and lead productive lives. They
can't do that if they're not given a chance. The food-stamp bill gives them
the chance.