'DRUG WAR' LOST, NEW WAY NEEDED TO ADDRESS ADDICTION

William Raspberry's article ("Threat of jail not only way to treat a sin,"
May 12) broaches a subject citizens of these United States need to begin to
seriously consider: Decriminalization of drug possession.

The failures of the "Drug War," "rehabilitation" of addicts in state
prisons, and "Truth in Sentencing" laws, which have taken away the
authority of judges to determine just sentences in individual cases and
helped to congest penal systems with non-violent drug abuse cases, demand a
re-evaluation of the way we approach the problem of addiction.

The irony of former "Drug Czar" William J. Bennett's 10-year, $8 million
gambling addiction indicates the prevalence of addiction in society,
exposes the hypocrisy of judging one addiction more harmful than another,
and reveals our ignorance or denial of addiction as a social, rather than
individual, problem.

Even if you aren't personally feeling the loss of a family member to this
problem, you can see its cost in jail crowding, budget deficits, and crime
rates.

How long will we continue to sacrifice our emotional, financial, and
physical security in the delusion that a policy proven ineffective by
prohibition will one day save our families and our streets?

Our challenge is to consider and implement alternative solutions to the
problem.

I suggest decriminatation of addictive behavior that does not harm others.

Release people incarcerated for such "crimes" and use existing
rehabilitation and support services for people who demonstrate this kind of
behavior.

Jail isn't working.

Joy Kitchens

Jackson