ADDICTS NEED REHAB -- NOT PRISON

I agree with the point of your editorial of Monday that Gov. Quinn
should have been more open and forthright in announcing his intention
to release a thousand nonviolent prisoners as a cost-savings measure.
As you correctly pointed out, such action by the governor would have
the greater benefit of giving those released men and women a better
chance at rehabilitation and thus easing the burden and cost of
maintaining our overflowing prisons.

However, I don't feel that you went far enough in your evaluation of
the situation. The truth is that after 40 years, the "war on drugs" is
not won, is not close to being won and will never be won. It is long
past time that society takes a hard look at the social, economic and
personal costs of continuing to keep up the fiction that we need to
continue this war. I believe that we would be better off in ending the
"war on drugs" entirely and instead, set about to deter, through
education and treatment, those who wish to use and abuse drugs, much
as we try to curb alcohol abuse. The recent proposal to basically
decriminalize marijuana use in unincorporated Cook County is a good
first step in the right direction, but it is only a first step. More
needs to be done.

Let's declare victory in the "war on drugs," officially end it, and
then get to work on realistically dealing with the problem of drug
abuse.

George E. Milkowski

West Ridge