THE FOLLY OF 'GETTING TOUGH ON DRUGS'

For the past three years Gov. Jeb Bush and Florida drug czar Jim
McDonough have been criticized for the state's aggressive policy
against drug users, which focuses on incarceration in prisons and
county jails.

They have deflected these complaints by telling us how important they
believe drug treatment is and how it is a better approach to dealing
with drug abuse and the associated crimes that often go with it.

Now we read where Bush has trashed the state budget that pays for
drug treatment in our prisons, thus ending programs in all but four
of the state's facilities (Prison drug treatment to be cut, Jan, 28).

And less than 48 hours later, his daughter is arrested on felony drug
charges. While we all hope that Noelle Bush gets any and all
appropriate help she needs, it brings clearly to the forefront the
hypocrisy of "get tough on drugs" laws.

Virtually all Floridians who are arrested on drug charges feel the
full brunt of these harsh policies. Unless one has sufficient money
to hire competent defense counsel, you are assured of being jammed
into the criminal justice system. Upon your emergence months (or
years) later, you will find employment difficult to obtain, you will
no longer qualify for federal student loans, you will never again be
able to vote in Florida (if convicted of a felony), you will be
barred from a long list of professions. And if you still have the
root problems that lead to drug abuse. Who cares? We'll just run you
through the mill again.

Gov. Bush endorses draconian drug policies because he knows that his
family and friends will never have to experience the full and
complete life-shattering consequences of these policies. If he says
otherwise now, you don't have to "read his lips." Just check his
budget.

STEPHEN HEATH Drug Policy Forum of Florida, Clearwater

LEAVE BUSH ALONE IN HIS FATHER ROLE

My morning routine was broken on Wednesday. I start every day with a
cup of coffee and the St. Petersburg Times. But on Wednesday morning
I stopped abruptly because right on the front page was an article
about the daughter of Gov. Jeb Bush, who apparently has a drug
problem. I haven't read the article, and I won't read it because I
think it's a disgrace that it is even in the paper.

You should know that I'm a 59-year-old widow in danger of losing my
position as a state employee because of recommended budget cuts by
our governor. Therefore I would probably read with relish any
scathing article that you would publish about Jeb Bush, the
politician. But his children and their problems? I don't want to read
about them and I won't!

Children should be off limits. Have the reporters no compassion at
all? Whatever you may think of politicians, their children are not
politicians and did not seek public life. Their problems should not
be exposed to the world in general. Yes, he is a politician and this
is part of his life, so I guess you do have the "right" to write
about it. But it would seem to me that you should consider just how
many hats we all wear during our life. When Bush is wearing his
political hat -- go for it! But when he has the father hat on, leave
the man alone!

JEANNE BATCHELLER
Pinellas Park

TREAT ADDICTION AS A DISEASE

Re: Jeb Bush's daughter.

Foremost, I honestly believe that any family that has been affected
by those suffering from addiction is truly heartbreaking. I also
think that most are private matters that should be handled with
compassion and understanding.

But when we have public leaders who shape and dictate public antidrug
policy, they should then be held accountable to the same standards
that they uphold. If Noelle Bush lived with the Bushes and was
convicted of a drug crime, technically they should be evicted,
because they live in public housing. No matter how ridiculous that
may seem, we should note that getting tough with these "criminals"
fails to address the fundamental problem of addiction. It is
undoubtedly a disease and should be treated as such.

This should also bring to light the current effort to put on the
ballot a constitutional amendment that calls for first-time,
nonviolent drug offenders to have the option to seek treatment rather
than serve jail time. It may not be enough, but is a step in the
right direction.

JOHN MEAD
St. Petersburg