Pubdate: Fri, 03 May 2002 Source: Honolulu Advertiser (HI) Copyright: 2002 The Honolulu Advertiser, a division of Gannett Co. Inc. Contact: http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/195 Author: Guy Chang DRUG ABUSERS HURT MORE THAN THEMSELVES The Victims Of Drug Abuse Are The Families And Children. It saddens me that legislators feel that because of prison overcrowding, first-time drug abusers should go to treatment programs instead of prison. Do they really think this is going to make them reform? I'm tired of hearing it's the drugs, that's why they behave like that. This is an excuse to escape reality. Everyone forgets who the real victims of the drugs are - the families and the kids who are left behind. This in itself is a crime that should put them behind bars so they have no choice but to reform. Did any of our lawmakers check on what the percentage rate is on drug abusers actually staying off drugs after going through a program? Probably not. What's a first-time offender? Is it someone who has done drugs for 10 years but finally gets caught and the case is held up in court? Wake up! We have a major drug problem in Hawai'i, and the victims are left behind in the cold with no hope because of our system. Guy Chang, Kane'ohe - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager