PROHIBITION VS. TREATMENT

The Aug. 7 article "Drug Abuse Law at Issue" was a sad, but unfortunately
not surprising revelation of the U.S. law enforcement community's
unwavering and unproductive stance on the use of illicit drugs.

Haven't 80 years of criminalizing this behavior without the desired
consequence (ending drug use) taught us anything? More laws, stricter laws
and more prisons (and spending more money on same) are never going to solve
this because drug abuse (including alcohol) is a health care issue.

Addiction is a disease of the mind and body. Comprehensive care
(counseling, medical support, housing, job training, financial assistance)
is what works. It may not work with every addict, but a well-coordinated
system with all the parts working together could deliver success. Until
this happens, we will only experience more of the same.

- - Philip Vardara

Grass Valley