Pubdate: Sun, 09 Jun 2002
Source: Spartanburg Herald Journal (SC)
Copyright: 2002 The Spartanburg Herald-Journal
Contact:  http://www.goupstate.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/977
Author: Janet K. Lankford

DRUG COURT: ADDICTS GET MUCH NEEDED ASSISTANCE RATHER THAN UNNECESSARY JAIL 
TIME

I am very happy to see that Spartanburg, with its Drug Court program, is 
taking a more positive approach to the problem of drug addiction. Judge 
Raymond Eubanks is doing a very noble thing in working for free to offer 
help to those who would otherwise be incarcerated. He deserves the thanks 
of the entire community.

Our prisons are full of good, young people serving time that could have 
been avoided through a program such as this. Many of these people sold 
drugs to support their habits. They will have a hard time getting their 
lives back on track when they are released because of their criminal 
records. We need to wake up and smell the coffee, folks. The "war" on drugs 
is not working!

We are filling up our prisons with young folks who could otherwise be 
working and paying taxes instead of being kept up by our taxes. Meanwhile, 
drug agents are advancing their careers, lawyers are making a fortune, 
prisons are overcrowded, families are torn apart, and the replacement drug 
dealers are back on the corner before the old ones get sent away.

It's simply the principle of supply and demand. Think about it: If there 
was no demand for the drugs, the dealers would be out of a job.

Thank you, Judge Eubanks, and all the fine people who contribute their time 
to give these folks the help that they need to change their lives and start 
over.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens