TREATMENT AND PUNISHMENT

I heartily agree with Robert Sharpe's Jan. 20 letter calling for
treatment and not prison for drug addicts.

The contradiction with this philosophy is that only a percentage of
addicts are sent to prison. They do get there eventually when they 1)
break your car window and hijack your stereo for money to buy
methamphetamine, 2) rob a retail store to sustain their habit, 3)
invade your home for the same reason, 4) steal identities to make
money for drugs, or 5) commit assaults and violent acts when
obtaining or distributing drugs.

The drug addict does not exist in a vacuum. A mixture of treatment
and punishment seems to be in order.

Mike Buchanan

Salt Lake City