Pubdate: Fri, 16 Jun 2006 Source: Palm Beach Post, The (FL) Copyright: 2006 The Palm Beach Post Contact: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/333 Author: Bob Flannery Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS INVOLVED IN DRUGS GET PASS The Post's recent lead article on cocaine addiction was particularly timely for me ("Cocaine: Another deadly wave," May 21). It capped an amazing discovery I had made in my role as an addictions consultant that same week. As I tried to refer a young Latino male into treatment, I learned that there are few local centers keyed to their language needs. Palm Beach CARP - the Comprehensive Alcoholism Rehabilitation Programs - offers no Hispanic language programs, and few public programs for alcoholism or addiction exist for this ever-growing group. I finally found a cooperative admissions director at a Palm Beach County program and confessed that there might be a problem with citizenship. The man said he was without identity papers and claimed that his had been stolen. The director of the program said: "Don't worry. We'll admit him whatever his (immigration) standing. We don't seek clarification in these situations, and they (federal agents) can't touch him while he's in treatment with us." Surprised? I was dumbfounded but sent the man to enroll as an outpatient. How can this process be justified with so many illegal immigrants engaged in smuggling, selling and abusing drugs? Wasn't there once something called "the war on drugs"? Surely, some effort could be made by Immigration and Customs Enforcement to evaluate the status of addicts while they're in clinics. BOB FLANNERY West Palm Beach - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman