LEGAL SYSTEM TREATS DRUG SYMPTOMS, NOT PROBLEM

Responding to a Chronicle reader's excellent question about Seattle's
harm reduction plan: I can honestly say this was never mentioned
during any of the keynote addresses or break-out sessions I attended.
However, the conference wasn't hosted by the city of Seattle but by
the Institute for lntegral Development, which chose Seattle as the
conference site for this year's annual event. The majority of our
speakers talked more about prevention efforts and treatment plans for
in-out patient substance abusers than the legal ramifications.

l will say this, however, after working in this field for 16 years
and also as a professional counselor, I feel our current American
legal system primarily treats the symptoms of drug abuse (drunk
driving, theft, etc.) but not the problem (addiction).

Now this doesn't mean that the addicted person shouldn't have to pay
for their crimes. I just wish we focused more on the treatment of the
addiction. If the addiction is arrested, pardon the pun, then the
crimes often dissipate. This has proven to be true in programs like
Drug Court here in this county where offenders are monitored while
they address their substance abuse problems.

Americans spend way more on incarcerating criminals than we do on
prevention programs and treatment plans. I would like to see more
money spent on preventing and treating the addiction than on jails
and prisons. I mean, let's face it -- if incarceration worked, we
wouldn't have to keep building more prisons, would we?

The TAD Center's programs have been called "one of the most
comprehensive programs" here in Tennessee for the prevention of drug
abuse by state officials and have even earned several awards. This is
because the board of directors designed the program from its
inception to work in schools with drug education, skill building,
etc., as well as provide alternative activities after school and in
the summer so that students aren't told just to "say no" but are
given some activities to participate in as well.

The center is also utilized evenings and weekends by student groups
like Dixie Youth baseball, CRYSA soccer, Boy and Girl Scouts and for
youth birthday parties. The TAD Center board has always recognized
the importance of involving parents, good teen role models and
community leaders because they believe it is "easier to build a child
than repair an an adult."

One very good example of this is the partnership between TAD and
several local Girl Scouts:

Congratulations are in order for 13 intelligent, talented and active
young women here in our county who just completed their Girl Scout's
Gold Award -- the highest honor you can achieve in the Girl Scouts. A
ceremony honoring the young women will take place Sunday afternoon at
the Linary Church of Christ. Kudos to Jessica Burnett, Tabitha
Creason, Chelsea Dotson, Lauren Fox, Megan Johnstone, Chelsea Nye,
Ariane Rohr, Callie Shanks, Catherine Simpson, Laura Stone, Laura
Swallows, Christine Tabor and Kelsey Wilson! You go, girls! The girls
have been under the expert leadership of Lillian Fox since early
elementary school.