Pubdate: Fri, 14 Apr 2006 Source: Des Moines Register (IA) Copyright: 2006 The Des Moines Register. Contact: http://desmoinesregister.com/index.html Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/123 Author: Julie D. Fatino DON'T CUT DRUG-FUNDING TREATMENT Dr. Steve Gleason died as a result of drug addiction. My daughter, Angela Fatino, also died as a result of drug addiction. Both deaths were determined to be suicide with a handgun. Last year Angela's photographs were published in the Register - not as a scare tactic, but rather as a picture of the reality of drug addiction in Iowa. The death of Gleason has forced us once again to face this devastating reality. Ironically, Angela had a dream of becoming a doctor. Recently, Iowa was commended for passing the toughest anti-meth laws in the nation. We refused to allow the federal law to weaken them. Once again, our efforts are threatened by proposed cuts in funding for Iowa's drug-treatment centers and Iowa law enforcement. This is simply unacceptable in Iowa, where we truly value children, families and communities. - - Julie D. Fatino Des Moines. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman