CUTTING DRUG DEMAND WILL CUT PRISON NEED

By building new prisons, we continue to feed into the hypocrisy that
government is capable of handling our moral and social responsibilities.
And we will continue to feed the bellies of corporate America.

Drugs have a long and stable history in American society. Although recent
statistics on drug use show a decline, a hard-core population of illicit
drug users remains. We need to supplement our tough drug laws with
education and treatment to reduce the demand.

Programs that lower the repeat-offender rate will cost a lot of money, but
it will be justified as the time and energy spent punishing and housing
substance abuse offenders are greatly reduced.

Stopping drug use in America has never been the objective of the "war on
drugs." It has become a vehicle to convince Americans that drugs, crime and
gangs are synonymous.

Terrell T. Williams

Pendleton Reformatory

Pendleton