But even if they stay off drugs for only a limited period, treatment more than pays for itself. And its value grows when it is combined with vocational training, job placement and other services designed to ease users back into society. Nonetheless, treatment remains seriously underfunded. Surely it's time we had a drug czar committed to doing this. John Walters is not that person.
People think it's a revolving door.
Martinez also wanted to do more about alcohol abuse. On both counts, however, Walters indicated, he was dissuaded. Reading his statements, I was struck by their partisan and hawkish tone. At a hearing in July 1996, for instance, he attacked the Clinton administration for attempting to provide more treatment for hard-core users. Walters also expressed unbending support for tough penalties for drug offenses and dismissed the idea that there are too many low-level drug offenders in prisons.