PRISON DRUG TREATMENT

Joel McNally's Feb. 17 article, "Treatment Vs. Prison," on the treatment
"alternative" for drug addicts/alcoholics in the Wisconsin correctional
system makes a dire point toward the end: What if there were modes of
treatment before one goes so far as to land in prison?

I'm glad this article was printed because this issue is very prominent in
society as a whole.

It seems that the ideal goal of incarceration is to better society and the
inmates. Substance addiction is at the center of crime, and thus the
strongest force on the state of communities. The United States has been
under the notion that if we take out the supply, it will strongly affect
the demand. Truth is, that no matter how many coca plants we spray
pesticides on, no matter how many poppy fields we burn, there will still be
addicts.

If the states took on drug treatment headfirst, we'd see a significant
change. It would affect poverty, education, disease and CRIME. A huge
portion of people in prison is there because of drugs in one way or another.

Drugs are destroying our communities (especially in Milwaukee) and this
issue definitely needs more light.

Again, thank you,

Christopher Gorski