Forum: Close to Home
Topic: Viewpoints - The U.S. spends two-thirds of its drug war budget on interdiction and law enforcement and one-third on treatment and prevention. Is this the appropriate ratio?
Topic Posted by: Close To HomeDate Posted: Wed Mar 18 15:22:22 1998
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Posted by: Vicki Eastridge (Osiyo@Juno.com )
Date posted: Mon Mar 30 22:33:58 1998
Subject: law enforcement vs treatment expenditures
Message:
How much money and other resources are being used that are accomplishing little? Addiction is a disease not a crime. Admittedly close to 80% (as I understand it) of people incarcerated have substance abuse issues or were under the influence of some mind altering chemical when their crime was committed. Our tax money would be much better spent on assisting addicts ( be that alcohol or other substances) into treatment programs that actually address the root problem. If a person can become clean and sober there is a much better chance of that person becomming a valuable member of society. Rehab is the most intellegent and valuable alternative to addiction problems. It has been said by Carl Jung that alcoholics have a thirst for the spirit but search for it in the bottle rather than through true spiritual growth. Incarceration for most addicts is a waste of human potential and financial resources. We are just now begining to recover from the damage done to mental health care by the Regan administration. It is apparent to me that treatment is the option of choice for real help in the area of addiction.
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