KUDOS FOR NEWS ON DRUGS

The Desert News deserves kudos for opting to get the facts on treating
addicts and for advocating the education of the public on the issue. Health
care professionals and doctors need to come forward and repudiate the
decades of mischaracterizations of drug addiction and enlighten the public
to the real problems facing society and addicts. For far too long, the
demonization of drug addiction, the demoralizing separation and consequent
imprisonment of addicts as a criminal solution to a medical problem has
failed us, as a society, miserably.

Many drug users need help, many don't, but creating an environment of
mistrust and hatred toward addicts serves no one. I hope the Desert News
takes an active role in educating the public on the aspects of drug
addiction and the various forms of treatment and addiction management
programs that have proven to be effective around the world.

Jim White; Oregon, Ohio