Pubdate: Thu, 17 Oct 2002 Source: Dayton Daily News (OH) Copyright: 2002 Dayton Daily News Contact: http://www.activedayton.com/partners/ddn/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/120 Author: Kristy Eckert, Columbus Bureau TOP ANTI-DRUG OFFICIAL OPPOSES STATE ISSUE ONE The nation's top anti-drug official opposes state Issue One, the proposed constitutional amendment that would require treating certain drug offenders instead of jailing them. John Walters, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, on Wednesday called Issue One a bad idea. "It will weaken the tools that the institutions have to get people into treatment," said Walters, who coordinates all federal drug programs and spending. But Ed Orlett, director of the group backing the issue, said new tools are needed in America's war on drugs. "It's not going to answer all the problems, but it's better to light one candle than curse the darkness," Orlett said. Walters said Ohio has done a good job linking the criminal justice system with treatment, noting that judges in the state already have the power to sentence drug users to treatment instead of jail. The amendment would make treatment mandatory. Walters said denial is a problem with drug addicts and the threat of incarceration is needed so people won't deny their addiction. "We should not expunge people's need to recollect this problem and get help," he said. Also, in a bad budget environment, it is not wise to add a constitutional amendment that requires funding, he said. Issue One mandates $247 million over a seven-year period. Orlett retorted that in America, political power is in the hands of the people, and that 780,000 Ohioans signed petitions to get Issue One on the ballot. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth