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Dear Readers,
In my column of 2/12/01 , I expressed
my professional opinion that "nonviolent
addicts, put behind bars for simple possession or
use, belong in treatment centers, not in prison
where they learn to become better criminals,"
adding, "We've tried locking up drug offenders,
and all we've accomplished is to pack our prisons.
It's time to try attacking the drug problem itself,
rather than just the symptoms. That means treatment,
not just incarceration."
In last week's column, I expressed
some strong doubt that Congress would vote support
of the portion of the president's FY 2002 Budget
which would increase funding for prevention and
treatment of drug abuse. I cited the all too common
attitude recently expressed on TV by one of my unfavorite
Congressmen, James Barr of Georgia, as my reason
for concern.
Rep. Barr was one of the guests
on MSNBC's News With Brian Williams on April
25th. As a prosecutor in northern Georgia, he took
a hard line when handling drug cases and, as a congressman,
he has supported legislation requiring mandatory
minimum sentences for drug convictions. The subject
was Robert Downey Jr.`s latest arrest on drug charges.
Thanks to the folks at MSNBC, I was able to obtain
a transcript.... only parts of which follow:
+WILLIAMS: "Robert Downey Jr.`s
latest arrest on drug charges is focusing new attention
tonight on substance abuse in this country and why
it is so hard for so many people to stop using drugs."
(Vidiotapes of Downey and of Darryl Strawberry)
+NBC CORRESPONDENT FAW (Voiceover):
"We may squirm, even wring our hands at their
plight. But at the same time we`re also fascinated.
No one laughs, though, at the numbers: 3 1/2 million
Americans hooked on drugs. An estimated 15 million
use illicit drugs: with evidence mounting (Comparing,
on screen, the scan of a healthy brain to that of
an addict) that not only does addiction damage
the brain, it also changes it physically."
+DOWNEY (on tape): "...you
can stop a bunch of times. It`s difficult to not
start again..."
+FAW (on camera): "Why do they
start up again? Because by then, some experts argue,
the addiction is so strong the victim is virtually
helpless."
+JOSEPH CALIFANO JR., NAT. CTR.
ON DRUG ADDICTION & SUBSTANCE ABUSE: "Once
you`re hooked, something changes in your brain and
you`ve got a real problem."
+FAW (voice-over): The other view
is that the addict, not the drug, is in control...."
+SALLY SATEL of the Conservative
think tank, American Enterprise Institute: "Of
course, it`s avoidable. We know treatment works
for some people....a lot of people stop on their
own."
+WILLIAMS: (To former "Drug
Czar" Ret. Gen.Barry McCaffrey):.... I want
to talk about the chemistry of a drug user....Do
some people have it worse than others?
+McCAFFREY: "What happens is
people change the neurochemistry of their brain
function. They then have a compulsion ..(with)...a
social, a medical, a legal consequence...Arrest...can
be...a precursor to..effective drug treatment.....The
problem (is) the criminal justice system does not
have adequate science-based medical treatment....they
don`t have a follow-on component. So we let these
people out of prison, a half million a year, and
they`re right back in chronic drug abuse. "
WILLIAMS: "Congressman, how
do tough mandatory minimum sentences address recidivism?"
REP. BARR: "..celebrities have
recurrent bouts with drug addiction..because there`s
no downside. Without any downside to the addiction....
these people are going to be coming back again and
again. You have to have punishment in order to work
a deterrent both on them and others that are similarly
situated, and that deterrent is hard time."
WILLIAMS: "Congressman, are
they bad people?"
BARR: "Yes, they are bad
people because they endanger the lives of people
around them...Incarceration does keep these people
...off the street...that`s why, over the last 10
years, the crime rate for violent crime has dropped
precipitously....." (Dr.Bill: But addiction
isn't !)
Readers: To be fair, ask,
and I will e-mail you the unabridged transcript.
Me? I'm angry.
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