TRY DRUG TREATMENT INSTEAD OF JAIL

Re: Downey in drug pickle once again, Nov. 27.

The unfortunate situation that Robert Downey Jr. finds himself in is a good
opportunity for us to analyze the usefulness of using incarceration in
response to drug addiction. When he used drugs, was he committing a crime
against you or me? No, he was committing a crime against himself. There is
talk that he will now face six years in prison.

He was incarcerated once before, and obviously that did nothing to treat
his addiction. I taught General Educational Development in Highlands County
jail last-year and found that many of the inmates were there because they
used drugs. Most of them had been there before, and when I asked if they
could stay out, most said they wanted to but weren't sure they could beat
their habits. It is a waste of money and jail space to incarcerate these
addicts. Treatment is far more effective and, I would think, a better use
of our tax money.

If Robert Downey Jr.'s plight helps change our perspective, he will have
done a service for us. He should not be incarcerated any more than most
addicts should. If the only reason that they are in custody is their
addiction, we fail to recognize it as an illness that can be treated.

Harvey Laskey, Brooksville