FUNDING NEEDED FOR TREATMENT PROGRAMS

In an "As I See It" by Justice Patrick A. Fox (Telegram & Gazette, May 2),
he urged us, as a community, to address the problem within the criminal
justice system of substance abuse. In my experience ,as a longtime
counselor in court-mandated programs for driver alcohol education, I have
seen again and again the benefits that treatment provides to all members of
our community. Lives change, families are strengthened and people become
contributing members of society.

I agree with Judge Fox that we already know what needs to be done in order
to move beyond the chaos and high price of substance abuse. We need funding
for treatment programs that help people recover from substance abuse.

Those recovery programs help control crime, they help avoid repeated and
expensive incarceration and they save valuable health care-related dollars.

I, too, encourage our legislators to find their political courage and
advocate for much-needed funding in the area of substance abuse treatment
and recovery.

Our community can be safer, healthier and stronger if we invest in
treatment programs.

Dana Bergman

Worcester