NAKED DESPERATION

Reading on Feb. 7 about the woman found naked, screaming in cold rain in
Burlington, saddened me greatly. Her unquiet acts of desperation clearly
indicate the need for immediate mental health and substance abuse
interventions.

The actions of the police were respectful, compassionate and appropriate.
Legal repercussions must necessarily occur but she is not going to get
treatment in jail. Yet jail is where she is likely to be, as will be
thousands of others who will have no treatment options as the state
continues to cut Health and Human Services funding in order to balance the
budget.

Maura Marini-Shumake

Raleigh