As a member of the West Timonium Heights Community Association, I was
really impressed with Dan Morhaim's column "Hospitals can help solve
drug problems" (Opinion Commentary, May 5). He not only presented
facts and figures about a complex problem, but offered a
compassionate, no-nonsense solution.

All communities have alcohol and drug problems. What better place to
handle treatment and follow-up programs than our community hospitals?
Their 24-hour schedules could accommodate even addicts with bizarre
round-the-clock work schedules that rule out 9-to-5 treatment
programs.(Yes, there are working alcoholics and drug users.)

I certainly commend efforts such as that of Mayor Martin O'Malley and
the Baltimore police to clear street corners of drug dealers and to
decrease killings. But their job is nearly impossible if nothing is
done about the root of the problem through education and treatment and
follow-up programs for current addicts. Helping addicts to recover is
like throwing a pebble in a pond: Benefits ripple out in all
directions. I agree with Dr. Morhaim. It is time to play serious ball:
Dollars up.

Robert Welsh,
Timonium