Pubdate: Wed, 01 Nov 2000
Source: Contra Costa Times (CA)
Copyright: 2000 Contra Costa Newspapers Inc.
Address: 2640 Shadelands Drive, Walnut Creek, CA 94598
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Forum:  Don Thompson, Associated Press
Bookmark: For Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act items: 
http://www.mapinc.org/prop36.htm

BETTY FORD CENTER DECRIES PROP. 36 FOR DRUG USERS

SACRAMENTO -- One of the nation's best known drug treatment centers is 
weighing in against an initiative on next week's ballot designed to provide 
more treatment programs.

"A lot of people have expressed surprise that the Betty Ford Center would 
oppose an initiative that's about treatment," center President and CEO John 
Schwarzlose said Tuesday.

The initiative would require that first- and second-time drug users be sent 
to treatment instead of prison or jail. That, and a lack of funding for 
frequent, random drug tests, means users can't be held accountable, 
Schwarzlose said.

Proponents countered that California's current treatment system isn't 
working, as evidenced by the record number of people imprisoned for drug 
possession.

However, the sort of treatment allowed under Proposition 36 is a far cry 
from what his center provides, Schwarzlose said before a news conference at 
the Rancho Mirage-based center, which has treated Hollywood celebrities and 
other well-known people.

"I truly believe the Texaco on the corner could hold treatment sessions," 
Schwarzlose said. It would be better to increase funding for existing 
treatment programs and California's successful drug courts, he said.

Dale Gieringer, director of the San Francisco-based Drug Policy Forum of 
California, noted that drug courts treat about 5 percent of users, while 
California prisons held a record 20,116 inmates on simple drug possession 
charges as of June 30. Those inmates made up a record 12.4 percent of the 
prison system's population.

"We've had drug courts now for the better part of a decade, and they don't 
seem to have made much of a dent," Gieringer said.

Also, imprisoning drug offenders has not noticeably reduced drug use, added 
Dave Fratello, campaign manager of the California Campaign for New Drug 
Policies.
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D