SOME REHAB CENTERS JUST EXPLOIT ADDICTS

This letter is to wake up the general public, if possible, to the problems
of drug and alcohol rehab assistance in the Denver metro area.

I can speak of this complex concern because my son is an addict and will
stay one because, despite the numerous organizations and programs in the
area that claim to help these less-fortunate individuals, their expressions
of concern are exceeded only by their lack of interest.

My son has been in too many programs to even mention. These programs
profess to help and yet merely use their clients to collect government
(state and/or federal) funds that simply enhance their coffers. He is even
in the court system and still has not received any "real" help.

These programs - from what I have seen over the last three to five years -
set the addict up to fail. Their rules are unrealistic (for all practical
purposes) and yet have notable exceptions, i.e., perhaps on a particular
day the supervisor might overlook a certain rule, or, on another day, might
explode at the addict. One program (men's) lets homeless women or female
workers come into the facility on a daily basis.

The men are not permitted to speak to the women and, if caught doing so,
are expelled on a whim. I ask, is this realistic?

Another so-called nonprofit organization uses the men to receive food
stamps. Are these programs really helping addicts address their issues?

I believe the American people as a whole need to wake up and admit there is
a serious drug and alcohol problem in this country. We need people and
organizations that truly want to help these people - not use them and
ignore the real problem.

Ramona Adkins

Denver