The Federal Govt. estimates that almost 10% of the population is need of, but not receiving, drug or alcohol treatment.

Wow

We need to do better, here's how we can.

Hospitals not jails, and politicians with the courage to tell the truth about the drug problem in America, and what really needs to be done to fix it.

Prohibitive and enforcement based laws have had little success in reducing usage rates.

Another winner...punishing people for carrying around clean needles for drug use. Why do we want these people to get HIV?

Millions of dollars has been spent on the D.A.R.E style drug education and prevention programs for schools. Millions that new research says was almost completely wasted - these programs just don't work!

At first glance it sounds ridiculous, but variations on this philosophy have been touted as a solution to our international drug problems for ages, and a number of countries have actually implemented programs to this effect with great results (the Netherlands and Canada).

Should we let the pharmaceutical industry self regulate? Here's yet another troubling story that points towards no.

If addiction is a disease, creates physical changes in the brain, and is recognized by all major medical groups - how come insurance companies can choose not to provide benefits?

Treatment works, incarceration alone clearly doesn't, and although the knee jerk reaction in this country is still too often a crime and punishment based approach to drug offenses, an innovative program in Delaware is gaining impressive results using a more therapeutic approach.

To summarize, the report explains that law enforcement isn't having much luck stemming the flow of diverted prescription medications...and in those few places where they have had success, people have just turned to heroin.

2009 looms hard for treatment organizations counting on federal dollars, as the Bush administration whittles already lean budgets down a few hundred million more.

Jail spending stays high and strong.

• If I am poor and addicted to drugs, and want help but do not break the law, I probably can't get state funded drug treatment.
• If I am poor and addicted to drugs, and don't want help, and get caught stealing cars - the state will pay for my drug treatment.

Make sense?

Drug courts are great - but they sure have created a distorted reward system for a whole lot of law abiding people in need.

Jail isn't reputed as the safest place to live, but apparently, it's after getting released from prison that the death toll skyrockets. Heroin addicts that are imprisoned, but not rehabilitated, are set loose to once again take heroin. Now though, they have no tolerance, and the results are tragically predictable.