MANY BENEFITS TO DRUG COURT

There should be no missed opportunity to praise the work of the state's
drug courts, which give drug users who have been convicted of crimes a
chance to get their lives together without going to prison.

The ongoing drug court in Pike, Amite and Walthall counties, which is run
by the circuit court judges, has reformed dozens of local residents. Many
more are on their way to that goal by their current participation in the
program.

Drug court gives people a chance to clean up their own lives, which is
enough reason to support the program. But it also keeps taxpayer costs down
by requiring participants to find work and stay clean during their time in
drug court -- all of which is a lot less expensive than putting an addict
in prison for a couple of years.

The topic arose last week when the drug court in Jackson, George and Greene
counties "graduated" its first nine participants. The court won't save all
the addicts. But it did save nine. That's a start.