EXPAND TREATMENT

I enjoyed reading the Oct. 26 story, "County told meth war could use
ammo," on the methamphetamine problem facing this nation.

Having prosecuted drug crimes for two years, I was constantly
impressed with the fact that most of

the people I incarcerated were

good, intelligent and pleasant people. In contrast to these people's
incredible potential was their hopeless dependence on methamphetamine
as their only source of joy or self-assurance.

On many occasions, it pained me that I was forced to send young men
and women to prison because that was the only option available to me.
I have long thought that a better approach would be to build secure
college campuses throughout the state where drug and alcohol addicted
offenders could live, study and recover.

There is no question that drug users are what drives the narcotics
trade in this country.

As a pragmatic conservative, my question is this: Is it cheaper in
the long run to offer hope to people or to warehouse them? Once they
have been warehoused with rapists, robbers and murderers, what kind
of a person will the addict be?

He could be treated and be a taxpayer and an outstanding citizen or
he could be a rapist, robber or murderer.

Craig S. Andersen