DRUG TREATMENT: ESSENTIAL, EFFECTIVE, UNDERFUNDED

Nora D. Volkow neglected the key element in her Aug. 19 op-ed --
funding. There is good reason that this brilliant Bush administration
appointee would make her accurate point that surging rates of violent
crime can be cut with drug treatment but neglect the part about
funding such programs: During this administration, the anti-drug
budget has been reduced from $19.2 billion in 2001 to $12.7 billion
for fiscal 2007, a decline of about a third.

Robert S. Weiner

Accokeek

The writer was director of public affairs for the White House Office
of National Drug Control Policy from 1995 to 2001.