Pubdate: Fri, 09 Jun 2006
Source: Oregonian, The (Portland, OR)
Copyright: 2006 The Oregonian
Contact:  http://www.oregonlive.com/oregonian/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/324
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n000/a241.html
Author: Gretchen Hite

'STATE OF NEGLECT': DRUG TREATMENT KEY

I heartily agree with the June 5 editorial, "For many kids, Oregon is
a state of neglect," which graphically explains the systemic problem
of parents with addictions.

On June 17, 2005, The Oregonian published an insightful account about
two of our state legislators, Sen. Ginny Burdick, D-Portland, and Rep.
Wayne Krieger, R-Gold Beach ("Inside the Capitol: Odd couple pushes
help, not prison for addicts").

It stated, "The two lawmakers jettisoned most of the tougher sentences
and instead proposed investing in treatment-related programs aimed at
cleaning up addicts so they won't be serial offenders . . . it's
cheaper to treat addicts than to keep cycling them through jails and
prisons amid the wreckage of burgled homes, stolen identities and
broken families."

Krieger said, "And maybe there's an individual's quality of life that
can be saved by this."

Treating the problem of drug addictions is a cost-saving option. We
can choose cost-efficient treatment programs over imprisonment for
parents and foster care for their children. Let's save lives.

Gretchen Hite, Beaverton
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake