TREATMENT FOR ADDICTS

I read with interest The News-Journal's Aug. 16 editorial "Treatment
under lock: County should use jail to fight addiction cost," and I
agree with the overall argument.

I also read the Community Voices column "County's math doesn't add up
to justify end to treating addicts" (Aug. 15) written by Edie
McKnight, and I strongly disagree with her position. She states that
"there is a solution to this disease through a 12-step program and
divine intervention."

The government should not be purchasing "divine intervention."

The experts agree that the most addictive drug and the drug most
difficult to overcome is nicotine, more difficult than heroin, or
cocaine, or meth or any other of the illegal drugs. However, most of
the Americans who have ever smoked cigarettes have quit, usually on
their own with no help! Now, does that tell us something?

The best program any jail can provide is a voluntary self-help group
to discuss among themselves the problems of their incarceration, how
they got there and what they plan for the future. Group interaction
helps some people to quit and to stay quit. It would be a valuable
opportunity at a time when they have been removed from all drugs. The
decision they must face is whether they will start again when they
are released.

It is their choice. Programs, or treatment, or mama, or sponsors or
meetings cannot do it for them.

Robert Stevenson

Daytona Beach