Pubdate: Mon, 10 Dec 2001
Source: Arizona Daily Star (AZ)
Copyright: 2001 Pulitzer Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.azstarnet.com/star/today/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/23
Author: Meredith Rubin
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)

LOOK BEYOND ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF DRUG TREATMENT

I am writing in response to the Nov. 29 article "Drug-treatment 
savings cited, disputed." It is disheartening to see the discussion 
of treatment vs. incarceration reduced to a debate solely about 
economics.

While there is a great deal of evidence that treatment is more 
economical than incarceration, other important considerations are all 
too often overlooked.

Addressing the issues that stand behind addiction rather than 
persecuting them pave the way for transformations in behavior and 
attitudes. If a total value of a community is the sum of its parts, 
then treatment enhances not only the individual, but also society as 
a whole.

The bottom line does support the economic benefits of drug treatment 
in place of imprisonment. The point, however, is while the financial 
aspect is important, it is not sufficient enough reason to lend 
support to treatment programs.

Separate from the quantitative discussion, there is a human element 
that must not be ignored. How does one place a value on a child being 
raised by his or her parent?

There is overwhelming statistical evidence to suggest that children 
who have at least one parent behind bars are more likely to engage in 
criminal behavior and wind up behind bars themselves.

Denise Johnston, head of the Center for Children of Incarcerated 
Parents, will be the first to acknowledge that the American public 
has little sympathy for those who commit crimes.

"One of the basic motivations of this society is retribution," she 
says. "We need to make ourselves feel better by hurting people who 
have done something wrong."

But when we punish people for using drugs rather than treating the 
problem, we also inadvertently assign blame to their children.

Politicians run on platforms of family values and preserving the 
sanctity of the American household. Do the same rules need not apply 
to families of a drug user?

Treatment, specifically long-term treatment in a facility such as 
Amity, has been shown to be effective.

Support treatment not because it is more cost-effective, but because 
it recognizes that people are fallible; because people are able to 
learn from their mistakes; because it treats people as human beings.

Support treatment for the sake of the children. Support treatment 
because it works.

Meredith Rubin

Amity Inc.
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