TREATMENT HELPS ADDICTS RECOVER THEIR LIVES

To the Editor:

Having read the article regarding young David Bernard and his father's
testimony concerning his son's drug abuse I was gratified by the judge's
decision to send him to a drug rehab center in Chattanooga until his trial.
(July 18)

Mr. Luckett, the victim in this case, certainly is entitled to feel
otherwise. I have never had my home invaded by armed robbers. While I have
never walked a mile in Mr. Luckett's shoes, I have had experience with
drugs and alcohol.

More than 20 years ago I was treated for alcoholism and spent 30 days in a
rehab center. While alcohol was my drug of choice, I did dabble with other
drugs. I should have been arrested many times, mostly for driving while
under the influence. Had I not received treatment for my alcoholism I may
have eventually killed or seriously hurt innocent people.

Drug and alcohol treatment is not a visit to the spa: It is difficult, hard
work and is highly supervised and structured. David will not spend his
whole life in jail. Eventually he will be living among us once again and I
would personally feel safer knowing he had received treatment.

I hope David "gets it" this time and stops blaming his parents for
disciplining him. Drug treatment can provide the ladder for David to crawl
out of the hole he has created for himself, but he has to be the one who
puts his foot on the first rung and make the effort to find his way out.

Karen Helgesen

Brentwood 37027