TREATMENT, NOT PRISON

In terms of real drug-policy reform, the Drug Treatment Diversion Program
initiative that will be on November's ballot is quite modest. In terms of
what is politically feasible, it represents a huge step in the right direction.

The initiative would set up a system of probation and treatment for
non-violent drug-possession offenders and certain parolees with no serious
or violent prior offenses. People in these programs would be subject to
certain rules, and if they violate probation or parole, they would again be
subject to the current drug laws.

The idea is that if a person has a drug problem, you start with treatment.
If that doesn't work or if he commits other crimes, then jail comes into play.

The initiative is similar to Proposition 200, passed in Arizona in 1996 and
reaffirmed in 1998. The Arizona Supreme Court reported that in its first
year of operation that system saved taxpayers $2.5 million and 77 percent
of those in the program tested drug-free.

Since California has more people and a bigger court and prison system, the
savings here would be much bigger: the Legislative Analyst's Office
estimates cost savings of $1.5 billion over five years, even after
appropriating an extra $120 million earmarked for drug treatment programs.

Here's the bottom line. We've been trying the same approach to drugs for
the last 30 years and it isn't working. The prisons are crammed with people
getting an education in how to try to get away with it next time, drugs are
readily available at too many schools or nearby, criminal gangs have more
money and guns than the cops, and nobody feels a bit safer. It's time to
try a different approach.

Let's be realistic. Drug treatment is not a magic bullet and it doesn't
work for everyone. Putting more money into drug treatment creates the risk
of reinforcing the Therapeutic State and the idea that government should
have a program for every personal problem rather than encouraging personal
responsibility.

But putting people in prison because they have problems controlling their
use of drugs not only hasn't worked, it has made every aspect of this
society's drug problems worse. It increases real crime and official
corruption at every level. It's time for a different approach.

The Drug Treatment Diversion Program initiative (that's the official ballot
title; proponents call it the Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act of
2000) is a modest reform with a good deal of promise. It includes
provisions for independent assessment as it is implemented, so if it
doesn't work it will become apparent. It deserves your serious attention
and support.