GIVE DRUG REHAB FUNDS TO STUDENTS

Regarding the recent article "County will cover cost of drug court
program," if I understand it correctly, whatever money the state
doesn't have to put toward this drug program is taken from the county.

I think that is a good thing, because if our money is going to go
toward prisoners anyway, we might as well try to help them rather than
just using it to keep them alive in prison doing nothing.

On the flip side, the prisoners did it to themselves, and if they
really wanted the help, they could get it on their own. Our paying for
them to go through the program is just making it easier for them.

The article said, "Clerk of Court Scott Ellis pledged $50,000 from his
budget, leaving the county to pay the remaining $43,400. Added to the
$150,000 already spent through February that wasn't budgeted, the
county is out of pocket $193,400 for its share of treatment costs."

That is pathetic.

My parents always taught me right from wrong, and I had to learn from
my mistakes and deal with the consequences.

I don't think we should be doing these people any favors.

The money should be put toward more education for younger people. If
you did that, I'm sure the population of drug users, especially teens,
would decline dramatically.

I think this was a good idea, but that kind of money should be used
for the youth of today.

FRANCES DURAN
Melbourne