A drug user is likely to be you or me or your neighbors - and we want the best for these people. At the same time as we can be very, very tough on crime, we can be very, very compassionate about drug users. Office estimated that the measure each year would move 24,000 drug offenders from prison, and an additional 12,000 from jails, into community-based drug programs. For those who deal with drug offenders, the new money that Proposition 36 makes available for treatment is cause for celebration. The money will be distributed to counties to spend on drug-treatment programs and related programs for drug offenders, including family counseling.
Many experts raise concerns about the program details.
For example, the state already has a waiting list of 5,000 for drug treatment without the huge influx of Proposition 36 candidates. Also, the measure is vague about what drug-treatment programs will have to include. Finally, there is the requirement that none of the new funding be used for drug testing services. Some say they know from experience that chronic users often respond only to treatment programs that include serious consequences for failure. He should know.