RECONSIDER CUTS

I read with dismay on Jan. 27 about the funding cuts for
drug-rehabilitation centers and other services for the treatment of
substance abuse. These centers and services have proved life saving to
thousands of substance abusers, as the statistics in the article bear out.

Without continued funding, we'll see a surge in deaths and costs to
incarcerate abusers with little or no hope for recovery in prison.

With news that Gov. Jeb Bush's daughter was arrested for allegedly making a
false claim for a prescription, perhaps our governor and the Legislature
will rethink their slashing from the budget programs that save and restore
lives and families.

ANDREA SANTOS

Homestead

As a practicing criminal-defense lawyer for more than 26 years, I can
verify that the overwhelming number of cases in state and federal courts
are drug related.

Yet, incredibly, Gov. Bush and the Legislature are drastically reducing
funding for drug treatment. It is inconceivable that these elected
officials don't recognize the obvious -- almost all persons serving time
eventually will be released.

If their substance-abuse problems aren't dealt with while in custody (and
if they don't get vocational and job-skills training) the odds of
recidivism are great.

For those persons arrested and not sentenced to incarceration, drug
treatment is essential to getting their lives back on track and preventing
further drug-related problems and crimes.

The cost in dollars, additional crimes and wasted lives is far in excess of
the money necessary for quality treatment.

How can the governor and legislators justify cutting critically necessary
funds for treatment while at the same time acknowledging the severity of
the problem and knowing that they can afford treatment for their own children?

JEFFREY S. WEINER

Miami