NATION'S DRUG CZAR TOUTS FAITH-BASED PROGRAMS

BRIDGEPORT, Conn (AP)- The nation's drug czar praised a local faith-based
drug treatment program Monday as he promoted an initiative by President Bush
that welcomes the participation of religious groups in treating addicts.

John P. Walters, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy,
visited the Helping Hand Center. The center, founded by Good Shepard
Christian Church, primarily serves Latino men who have drug addictions.

"This is an outstanding example of a facility that is founded by people who
have a common faith conviction," Walters said. "It is supported with public
funds. It does not use those funds to carry out religious purposes. But it
does not hide its religious faith in the example of people who work here."

About 70 percent of people complete Helping Hand's program, Walters said.

Walters, who spoke near a sign in Spanish that referred to Jesus, promoted a
proposal by President Bush that calls for spending $200 million annually
over the next three years to expand access to drug treatment through
treatment vouchers. The program is designed so that religious programs can
qualify.

The new program would give people vouchers to seek drug treatment at the
center of their choice, including religious programs. Employing vouchers
makes it easier to constitutionally justify paying for a program that is
infused with religion.

The initiative has sparked controversy, with opponents fearing the
government will pay for programs that replace professional counselors with
prayer and Bible study.

Helping Hand sends its clients to Teen Challenge in Pennsylvania for a
second phase of treatment that includes vocational training. Teen Challenge
uses Christian teachings to tackle drug addiction and encourages
participants to convert to Christianity, prompting opponents to argue that
funding Teen Challenge amounts to unconstitutional, taxpayer-funded
conversion.

But Walters denied the initiative was a conversion effort.

"It's an effort to save people," Walters said. "Faith does not have to be a
reason for bigotry against programs that are effective."

The state provided about $136,000 for Helping Hand in fiscal year 2003,
according to Dr. Wayne Dailey, spokesman for the state Department of Mental
Health and Addiction Services. The funds are used for residential treatment
of addicts, not for religious activities, he said.

Carlos Lopez, who is 45, said he went to about five different programs for
his heroin addiction before he finally recovered through Helping Hand. Asked
what separated Helping Hand from the other programs, he said, "God."

"The Bible classes they give us, it works," Lopez said. "I got my life
back."