Pubdate: Wed, 18 Jul 2001
Source: Los Angeles Times (CA)
Copyright: 2001 Los Angeles Times
Contact:  http://www.latimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/248
Author: Marshall Bell
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n1282/a07.html

TREATING DRUG ADDICTS

Re "Drug Law Ushers In a New Era," July 15: Time will tell whether sending 
addicts to treatment centers is a more effective way of dealing with them 
than sending them to prison. But what about the short term? How much 
mindless violence, murder, rape, armed robbery, road rage, etc., is 
perpetrated by addicts? Their crimes are done in the short term.

Has anybody even looked at a short-term solution to those crimes? Short of 
quipping that society should be empowered to kill them all on sight (which 
is utterly ridiculous), we don't really have an answer, nor do we seem to 
be honestly looking for one. So the problem will continue to exist. It's 
just something to think about.

Marshall Bell, Los Angeles
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens