DRUG COURT LESS EXPENSIVE THAN BUYING PRISON SPACE

Jon Kinimaka's Oct. 17 letter "More funding needed for state drug courts"
highlights the success of Drug Court programs and the fact that
court-supervised drug treatment, instead of incarceration, really does work.
I myself am living proof that a serious drug offender who is given the
proper tools can become a productive member within the community.

I have been called "The Miracle Man" because, after 37 years of abusing
drugs, I once died (overdosed) and came back to life. Now I am proud to say
that I am a successful graduate of the Maui Drug Court's first graduating
class. I am employed full-time, paying taxes, and have been clean and sober
for over two years now. If not for the Maui Drug Court, Hawaii taxpayers
would still be paying for my room and board while warehousing me in some
Mainland prison for years, getting worse, sicker, with no treatment.

There are so many people I have to thank for my sobriety including the
police officers who arrested me. Most of all, I thank my impact counselors,
my peers in the Maui Drug Court, Judge Raffetto, Judge Cardoza, and former
Judge Duke Aiona who founded the first Drug Court on Oahu. Yes, it's true,
miracles can happen. Mahalo for a second chance at life!

Alan Gaspar

Wailuku