Pubdate: Sun, 26 Dec 2010 Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution (GA) Copyright: 2010 Robert Sharpe Contact: http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/opinion/letters/sendletter.html Website: http://www.ajc.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/28 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v10/n1047/a01.html Author: Robert Sharpe DECLARE PEACE IN DRUG WAR TO SAVE MONEY Regarding Kyle Wingfield's "Change jail policy and save" (Opinion, Dec. 19): Georgia is one of many states grappling with overcrowded prisons. Throughout the nation, states facing budget shortfalls are pursuing alternatives to incarceration for nonviolent drug offenders. A study conducted by the RAND Corp. found that every additional dollar invested in substance abuse treatment saves taxpayers more than $7 in societal costs. There is far more at stake than tax dollars. The drug war is not the promoter of family values that some would have us believe. Children of inmates are at risk of educational failure, joblessness, addiction and delinquency. Not only do the children lose out, but society does, too. Incarcerating nonviolent drug offenders alongside hardened criminals is the equivalent of providing them with a taxpayer-funded education in anti-social behavior. Turning drug users into unemployable ex-cons is a senseless waste of tax dollars. It's time to declare peace in the failed drug war -- and begin treating all substance abuse (legal or otherwise) as the public health problem it is. Robert Sharpe, policy analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake