ONE STEP AT A TIME

If you've ever spent a full day in criminal court, you'll see why so
many lawyers, cops, and others who work in the social and criminal
justice system support the idea of drug courts.

Spend a day in court and you'll quickly see that the vast majority of
crimes are directly related to addiction to drugs and alcohol.

Car-jacking, petty theft, fraud, drug dealing, common assault,
murder. More often than not, drug or alcohol addiction is at the root
of these crimes. The court system is positively plugged with these
people. Sending them to jail may work on a few - some will actually
get the message and turn their lives around. But most just end up
endlessly circling the courtroom carrousel.

Let's face it, some of these people are doomed. They will never get
clean, and eventually they will simply die from their addictions.
Others can overcome their problems, if offered treatment when they
are ready to get it.

That's why so many local leaders support the notion of drug court, as
detailed in our front page story. Drug court offers criminals a
choice: Plead guilty, and instead of jail, you can get treatment.
Admitting you have a problem is the first step to overcoming an
addiction, and an admission of guilt is part of the equation.

But here's a critical point: Drug court in Richmond would be somewhat
pointless if there are no local facilities to accommodate addicted offenders.

Drug court is the second step. First we, as a community, need to take
the first step of accepting the need for treatment facilities, like a
detox centre.

We don't agree that you can treat someone properly by shipping them
out of their communities. An addict or alcoholic is more likely to
stick with his or her program if he or she has local support.

For the NIMBY crowd who would oppose a detox centre or any other
treatment related facility, we ask: Would you rather have people who
are trying to straighten their lives out living next door, or needy
addicts breaking into your homes and stealing your cars?