FUND DRUG TREATMENT CENTERS THROUGH BUSTS

We have a son who is a recovering drug user. He could have been serving
"empty time" in OCCC right now.

He committed burglary to support his drug addiction. However, the courts
sent him to a drug treatment center instead of prison. He's been in this
treatment center for two months. We are proud of what he has accomplished
in so short a time. OCCC wouldn't have given him that chance.

We have seen the homes, cars, jewelry, drugs and the money that have been
confiscated from drug busts. My question is, where does all that "drug
money" go?

If you are given a traffic citation, a portion of that fee is placed into a
fund for driver's education. When the tobacco companies were sued, a
portion of that financial suit was also allocated to undo the damages that
were done.

We all agree that we need funding. Well, why can't we get the funding from
the people who hooked our kids on the drugs?

The agencies that confiscate the goods have their own funding. Why can't
half of what is confiscated be used for more drug treatment centers?

An Advertiser article revealed the numbers of our drug addicts:

* An estimated 15,000 Hawai'i residents need drug treatment but cannot
afford it.

* About 85 percent of Hawai'i's approximately 5,200 prison inmates have
drug problems.

I'm grateful for the state Judiciary's Drug Court Program. Our son was a
nonviolent drug offender. He avoided prison by attending this drug
treatment program. However, so many more need our help.

It's hard to change a lifestyle; and prison is full of people who are not
given an opportunity to change that lifestyle.

A. Lee Totten

Kane'ohe