TREATMENT BETTER THAN INCARCERATION

Your June 16 editorial was right on target. Jail cells are hardly ideal
health interventions.

A study conducted by the Rand Corp. found that every additional dollar
invested in substance abuse treatment saves taxpayers $7.46 in
societal costs. Incarcerating nonviolent drug offenders alongside
hardened criminals is the equivalent of providing them a
taxpayer-funded education in criminal behavior. Imagine if every
alcoholic were thrown in jail and given a permanent criminal record.
How many lives would be destroyed? How many families torn apart? How
many tax dollars would be wasted turning potentially productive
members of society into unemployable ex-cons?

ROBERT SHARPE

Sharpe, of Arlington, Va., is program officer of the Drug Policy Alliance
of Washington.