EFFECTIVE PROGRAM

Herald-Leader staff writer Michelle Ku's Aug. 31 article reporting that the
drug and alcohol abuse program at the Fayette County Detention Center will
be closed because of a lack of funds is deeply disturbing.

The program, based on the well-established principles of 12-step programs,
resulted in only nine cases of relapse among 118 inmates who completed the
program.

By national standards, this is a record of gold Olympic gold medal quality.
California is proud when two out of 100 of its incarcerated citizens recover.

As the news in Lexington and the world make clear every day, very few
recovery programs work.

Lexington's does. The city grant of $166,000 a year plus the Hope Center's
contribution is a very small price to pay for more than 100 human beings to
gain the tools that will help them to remain drug-free and become
productive citizens.

I urge our citizens and civic leaders to find the resources necessary to
support this worthy program, which is in danger of being cancelled.

Grace Perreiah, Lexington