DRUG TREATMENT BEATS PRISON TIME

Zev Chafets is right on target ("Drug addicts who can't kick the habit
don't deserve the boot," @issue, Nov. 24) and Georgians have already
recognized this. A recent survey conducted for the Georgia Council on
Substance Abuse found that 75 percent of Georgia voters preferred
supervised treatment to prison for drug-addicted offenders. Support
for supervised treatment was strong across all regions of the state,
demographic groups and party affiliations.

We cannot stop the flow of illegal drugs into our country nor
eliminate the legal ones; instead we must reduce demand with timely,
appropriate treatment for all ages and effective prevention programs
in our schools and communities.

BECKY VAUGHN

Vaughn is CEO of the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse.