Pubdate: Mon, 26 Jun 2000
Source: San Diego Union Tribune (CA)
Copyright: 2000 Union-Tribune Publishing Co.
Contact:  PO Box 120191, San Diego, CA, 92112-0191
Fax: (619) 293-1440
Website: http://www.uniontrib.com/
Forum: http://www.uniontrib.com/cgi-bin/WebX
Authors: Laurie Cohen, B.J. Prine
Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n865/a02.html

DRUG TESTING CAN BE SUSPECT

Re: "Substance-abuse act dangerous, misleading" (Letters, June 23):

Sheriff Bill Kolender assured us that mandatory testing of drug addicts has 
been proven to work.

But even court-ordered drug testing results can be altered to make it 
appear that the subjects were not using illegal drugs. Any person with 
access to a computer printer or copier can change the test results, and the 
overburdened Department of Social Services accepts it.

This informal approach to treatment needs a lot of work before Kolender or 
the courts can assume that it is effective.

Laurie Cohen, San Diego

It is not surprising to hear Kolender praise a system that keeps him and 
his cohorts employed.

But the reality is that jails are more crowded, drug abuse is at an 
all-time high and taxpayers pay more and more each year to incarcerate 
people in places where they are able to continue their illicit drug habits.

I don't think a sheriff who can't keep drugs out of jail is in a position 
to tell the public how to keep them out of their homes.

B.J. Prine, La Mesa
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D