PREVENTION: It actually costs less

Drug addiction treatment programs WORK!

"For every $1 spent on treatment costs, Idaho avoided $1.38 in criminal justice costs, according to new research from the Washington State University Public Policy Center. Nevertheless, Gov. Butch Otter's budget proposal for next year calls for cutting the services by 30.3 percent in state general funds, and 10.8 percent in total funds, and lawmakers are now saying they're likely to trim substantially more from the state budget than Otter recommended." - from the Spokesman-Review.

The study does not include savings from loss of wages of incarcerated, impact to families and children, and of course in Kootenai County the ever-present request to expand the jail due to overcrowding. Predictions are there will be increases in jail populations used to support tax increases for building a bigger jail.

It took YEARS to get Idaho to the point of supporting treatment programs, evidence shows treatment works, is cost effective by paying for their cost and resulting in reduction of costs of other programs.

What part of this decision to cut funding for this critical program that contributes to the general fund and a stronger society, makes fiscal sense?

SHIRLEY THAGARD

Hayden