IMPROVE TREATMENT FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE

I was impressed by the April 6 commentary by Frank Pinckney, president of
the Greenville Hospital System. He pointed out many outstanding features of
the health-care services he heads, and for which this community can be
grateful.

However, it is disappointing that residential treatment of alcoholism
and drug addiction is not among the programs he can cite. It's
strange, too, because the American Medical Association long ago
classified alcoholism and drug addiction as primary diseases as well
as contributors to other illnesses.

Locally, the personal and economic devastation wreaked by alcoholism
and drug addiction is staggering, as was documented in a study two
years ago financed by the Greenville County Alcohol and Drug Abuse
Commission.

Families with members suffering from these diseases, and employers
with afflicted workers not yet lost to these curses, need health care
help. I think our hospital system should be providing it.

Jack Plumley

Greer