News (Media Awareness Project) - US: LTE: Dispatches From The War On Drugs |
| Title: | US: LTE: Dispatches From The War On Drugs |
| Published On: | 2011-06-27 |
| Source: | New York Times (NY) |
| Fetched On: | 2011-06-30 06:02:15 |
DISPATCHES FROM THE WAR ON DRUGS
To the Editor:
Jimmy Carter reflects the recommendation of the Global Commission on
Drug Policy to "substitute treatment for imprisonment for people who
use drugs." The fly in the ointment is that addiction is a disease in
which the host rarely wants treatment.
A recent survey of Houston drug treatment centers revealed a 40
percent bed availability for drug treatment, modifying a famous
expression to "if you build it, they don't seem to come."
Often, terrible things have to happen to addicts to motivate them to
go to treatment, and the results of enforcement (and the threat of
imprisonment) are one of these things.
GERALD BUSCH
Houston, June 18, 2011
To the Editor:
Jimmy Carter reflects the recommendation of the Global Commission on
Drug Policy to "substitute treatment for imprisonment for people who
use drugs." The fly in the ointment is that addiction is a disease in
which the host rarely wants treatment.
A recent survey of Houston drug treatment centers revealed a 40
percent bed availability for drug treatment, modifying a famous
expression to "if you build it, they don't seem to come."
Often, terrible things have to happen to addicts to motivate them to
go to treatment, and the results of enforcement (and the threat of
imprisonment) are one of these things.
GERALD BUSCH
Houston, June 18, 2011
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