Editor: Re: Don't reward criminals with therapy, letter to the editor, Feb. 19
I find the letter written by Steven Austin to be incredibly misinformed Addicts and mental health patients do not get the therapy in prison that many need in order to sustain a healthy lifestyle in a community.
Addiction is identified as a disease in the medical profession. The only valid point that Austin makes is that drug use over time can cause mental illness. However, given the proper treatment, the mental illness can disappear with no drug use.
I, on the other hand, have experienced what addiction can do to a family. The Delta police were and have been incredible in their responses to situations that have arisen.
There is very little funding in our province to help addicts break their habit aside from private treatment facilities that can cost over $20,000. Government-funded facilities house former convicts who have not been rehabilitated and can cause more damage than good in some cases.
If the average cost per prisoner is $274 per day, and a three-month rehab program costs over $20,000, the math indicates we could save close to $50,000 annually per prisoner with an addiction problem.
Given the opportunity to stop the cycle, many addicts can and will become successful members of society. Therapy is not a reward for bad behaviour.
The Delta police have a challenging job dealing with the drug problem in our communities. I have witnessed how caring and understanding officers are with the addict.
They admit that our system is flawed, but to call Chief Jim Cessford a "defeatist" shows how misinformed Austin is.
While he comes from a "victim perspective," addicts and mental health patients are also victims of a disease.
The money that could be saved by offering therapy in private treatment centres is far more beneficial than locking someone up and shoving the problem under the carpet.
In the end, no crime should be excused; accountability for actions is a huge part of the 12-step program and each of us is accountable for our behaviour. The fact remains that we need more funding for prevention of a cycle rather than incarceration.
A. Rough
