Pubdate: Wed, 14 Nov 2001
Source: Quad-City Times (IA)
Section: Opinion, Page A6
Copyright: 2001 Quad-City Times
Contact:  http://www.qctimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/857
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?135 (Drug Education)

MORE EDUCATION, NOT MORE PRISONS

A year ago, there was cautious optimism that the 1990s plague of 
methamphetamine abuse was lessening in Iowa. Fewer seizures of highly 
addictive meth were made, and treatment providers saw the second-straight 
year of decline in the number of clients.

The optimism soon vanished.

In the fiscal year that ended June 30, drug convictions hit a record high. 
Two-thirds of the those inmates were meth users or sellers. And among all 
new inmates, 27 percent carried drug convictions -- the most common crime. 
Drug treatment centers saw record numbers of clients, including more women.

The surge in convicted drug offenders, primarily meth users or sellers, is 
creating problems this state cannot afford.

The population of Iowa's prisons stands at more than 8,000 inmates. At the 
current rate of incarceration, Iowa will need about 12,000 prison beds 
within a decade. The current official capacity is about 6,700.

Do the math.   Hundreds of millions of dollars to build each of several new 
prisons.   Another $80 million or more in annual operating costs.

Then consider that state funding for many services has just been reduced 
because of sharply decreased tax revenues and no growth expected until well 
into 2002. Given Iowa's relatively slow population growth and business 
expansion, even in good economic times, the tax base won't increase fast 
enough to pay for all those prison beds.

What To Do?

For one, prison officials and legislators should recognize that locking up 
all convicted drug users, particularly nonviolent first-timers, isn't very 
effective or efficient. Expanded treatment and supervised work-parole 
programs could better serve the offenders and society in the long run and 
cost less than imprisonment.

However, Iowa also needs to focus more on prevention.

The two biggest factors that help kids stay away from meth and other drugs 
are strong, supportive families and education . Unfortunately, some 
children grow up in at-risk social and economic conditions that aren't 
easily remedied. Thus, the burden of helping young people avoid drug abuse 
often falls on the schools.

Fortunately, there's a new program available to help teachers. "Life or 
meth: What's the cost?" is a high-tech, sixth-grade curriculum tested in 
Iowa and other Midwestern states. It's available free to schools through 
area education agencies and was funded by federal dollars because Iowa is 
designated as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.

North Scott seventh-grade teachers Mary Blong and Pat Schrad were involved 
in the testing. Their students "reacted positively," Blong says. The 
computer graphics and animation, combined with video clips of a meth lab 
raid and demonstrations of how meth chemicals attack the brain, "gets their 
attention," she adds. "The information is good, and they learned from it. 
The subject matter was new to them.

"It helped them understand the dangers."

And if children understand the risks and consequences of drug abuse, they 
stand a better chance of making healthy choices and staying out of prison.

Realistically, the war against meth must be fought on many fronts. Creative 
educational programs such as "Life or meth" should be a vital part of the 
strategy.

Putting more focus on education , as well as treatment and alternative 
sentences for meth and other drug users, doesn't mean going soft on crime. 
Rather, legislators and state officials should become smarter about finding 
the best and most affordable ways to prevent and treat drug abuse.
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MAP posted-by: Beth