Pubdate: Mon, 08 Apr 2002
Source: Greenville News (SC)
Copyright: 2002 The Greenville News
Contact:  http://greenvillenews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/877
Author: John Boyanoski
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)

ADVOCATES ARGUE TREATMENT, NOT PUNISHMENT, WILL SOLVE DRUG PROBLEM

Time and treatment will solve the area's drug problems, not 
short-term incarceration, said advocates for drug rehabilitation 
programs and while Greenville County Sheriff Sam Simmons agrees in 
principle, he said the solution to crime is punishment.

In an effort to curb crime Simmons said he is targeting street users. 
His deputies arrested 35.7 percent more people in 2001 than the year 
before on simple drug possession, while distribution and trafficking 
charges remained fairly stable.

Carol Reeves, executive director of Greenville Family Partnership, 
points out that it is the sheriff's job to arrest people when they 
break the law and says arresting drug users is better than "looking 
the other way."

But she believes more treatment is a must.

"A more strategic plan is needed," she said. "We miss a whole 
opportunity here."

Kat Rice, Greenville Drug and Alcohol Commission executive director 
said the commission is working on a needs study for drug and 
substance abuse treatment for Greenville, but it will be three to 
four months before it is completed.

Between 85 and 90 percent of crime is driven by drugs, and a big 
problem is many people in Greenville don't want to admit the drug 
problem exists, Rice said.

"This community is not that knowledgeable about drugs and alcohol. 
Actually, a lot of people deny there is a problem here, but there is 
a huge problem here," she said.

Simmons said while he is for treatment programs, arresting users also 
cuts off the demand for drugs and in the long run helps curb violent 
crimes.

According to the National Drug Intelligence Center, South Carolina is 
a destination and a transshipment point for drugs going to the rest 
of the country.

Violent crime associated with street gangs, which run the drug trade, 
is a significant threat in places such as Greenville, Charleston and 
Columbia, according to the NDIC. In 1999, South Carolina ranked 
second in the nation in violent crime and sixth in prison 
incarceration.

South Carolina spent almost $51 million on drug treatment in 2001. 
Greenville accounted for almost $4.8 million of this treatment 
spending, according to the state Department of Alcohol and Other Drug 
Abuse Services.

Statewide, 54,447 people received treatment last year, and in 
Greenville it was 3,694, according to the agency. However, more than 
310,000 people in the state warrant treatment.

And Bradley Cuffel knows a lot about drug treatment.

The 36 year old spent 16 years of his life in and out of treatment 
for various drug problems before finally going clean almost two years 
ago. Cuffel said the choice was either go clean or face jail time.

"I'm one of the fortunate ones," he said. "At this time last year, I 
was sitting in a jail cell."

Cuffel said it was a combination of facing jail time and wanting to 
quit that made him go clean.

However, some experts question whether it's wiser to seek full-term 
treatment for drug abusers instead of locking them up where stays are 
generally short before going to trial.

According to Greenville County Detention Center statistics, the 
average stay for a marijuana charge was between six and 15 days. For 
inmates charged with cocaine possession, it was five to 13 days, and 
the average was between 11 and 23 days on paraphernalia charges and 
11 to 28 days for heroine possession.

Law enforcement officials argue that jail and treatment aren't 
exclusive of each other.

Sgt. Donald Kenney, director of inmate programs at the detention 
center, said there is a four-week program in place for inmates in 
jail and an eight-week program for those in the work release program 
that gives inmates a chance to learn about drugs. Both programs are 
voluntary.

The detention center also has medical facilities for more serious 
cases. "We've had an awful lot of inmates participate" in the drug 
program, Kenney said. "It really depends on whether the classes are 
going on in the areas they are housed. They don't have to attend them 
all."

In some cases, treatment is an alternative to incarceration after an 
arrest. Circuit Judge John Few said he orders it for about half of 
the defendants he puts on probation.

Another avenue is Drug Court, which is designed for habitual drug 
offenders with no history of violent crime. One is run by the 13th 
Circuit Solicitor's Office in Greenville and Pickens counties, said 
Judge Charles Simmons, who presides over the court that hears 
drug-related cases.

The 18-month program is divided into four phases and designed to get 
addicts off drugs and into jobs, Simmons said adding, "The whole 
process is to train them."

Besides turning around drug offenders, the program saves taxpayers 
money. Simmons noted it costs roughly $15,000 a year to house a 
prisoner, but only $2,500 to put him/her through the drug program.

Solicitor's Office records show 113 people have participated in the 
drug court program since its start in November 1998. Seventy-five 
percent stayed off drugs, and only one person was subsequently 
incarcerated. Figures weren't available for the percentage of 
convicted drug offenders who enrolled in the program.

According to the Center for Substance Abuse in Maryland, people who 
have received treatment for drug abuse after arrest are less likely 
to be arrested again, less likely to commit crimes and more likely to 
be employed then those with no treatment.

Cuffel said the main thing for him and others is they must want to 
sacrifice and work for the treatment.

"It's not easy," he said. "You have to learn to be responsible for 
yourself. You have to want it and be ready for it."
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