Pubdate: Sun, 08 Jan 2006
Source: Daily Sentinel, The (Grand Junction, CO)
Copyright: 2006 Cox Newspapers, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.gjsentinel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2084
Author: Tammy Wiegurg

INCARCERATION IS NOT THE BEST WAY TO HELP PEOPLE KICK DRUG HABIT

Editor:

I am responding to the letter writer who wants to put all drug 
offenders in prison for 10 years and banish them from Mesa County for 
life. Apparently, he has never been an addict nor in our prison 
system. I, on the other hand, have been sober for 3 1/2 years and did 
22 months in our prison system.

Our prisons do not promote any type of rehabilitation. They are about 
doing time, which consists of bingo, karaoke, state-of-the-art gyms, 
new movies every weekend, hula lessons, CAD classes, lying in bed 
watching TV and using craft stuff. Now is that the real way to help 
our drug addicts?

I got sober, without help from the Department of Corrections. I've 
stayed that way on my own.

It's about educating our youth, not incarcerating them. Get informed 
before making such wonderful decisions about other people's lives.

Tammy Wieberg

Clifton
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman