Pubdate: Mon, 8 Nov 1999 Source: Los Angeles Times (CA) Copyright: 1999 Los Angeles Times Contact: Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90053 Fax: (213) 237-4712 Website: http://www.latimes.com/ Forum: http://www.latimes.com/home/discuss/ DOWNEY'S PRISON TERM FOR DRUGS (1 of 2) Re "Actor Downey Doing Hard Time for an Illness," Nov. 3: I agree with Mike Downey's position opposing the incarceration of drug addicts. However, I object to his using Robert Downey Jr. as his poster boy. He does not so much as acknowledge the poor and unknown who constitute the overwhelming majority of those who find themselves in prison for drug use. Most of those have not been given the special considerations that Downey Jr. received. One's acting ability, moneyed connections and charm should not determine incarceration or freedom. I find Mike Downey's pandering to celebrity offensive. Mona Davis, Cypress ~~~ When are we as a so-called civilized society going to realize that it is counterproductive to spend billions of dollars to build more and more prisons to house people who are sick? It would be much less expensive and more beneficial to society and addicted individuals to provide adequate treatment facilities. Maybe with the money that is saved we could even provide decent medical care for those unable to afford it. Morris Kushner, Santa Monica - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D