EMPHASIZE DRUG TREATMENT, NOT JAIL

Thank you for the article "Fight drug war by treating, not just jailing
addicts" (Aug. 8). The cornerstone of our nation's effort to decrease
substance abuse must be treatment rather than jail.

While substance abuse is our leading cause of incarceration and we imprison
more than 2 million citizens (the highest rate among Western democracies),
substance abusers seldom have access to treatment. Government policy is
nonsensical. Treatment is unequivocally cheaper and more effective than
jail, but our politicians (including President Clinton, Al Gore and George
W. Bush) refuse to be convinced by the facts.

Physicians for Leadership in National Drug Policy has a quality Web site
(www.plndp.org) and invites physicians and medical students who agree with
the Consensus Statement to become associates of the group. Substance abuse
originates as a medical problem, so it's about time that physician leaders
spoke up.

Richard E. Bayer, M.D.

Southwest Portland