I am writing to you, as a private citizen, to attempt to have your, and other concerned offices further consider the re-instatement of additional funds for Prop 36, or an equivalent program. The highly successful treatment rather than incarceration program, for non-violent offenders that was passed by 61% of California voters on November 7th, 2000. The program not only saved and affected lives, but additionally saved the state millions in its five year existence. It is well known, and unfortunate that the initial $120 million Dollars ear-marked has dwindled to practically nothing. Your personal veto of the request for additional funding in 2006, again in 2007, and most likely in 2008, shows both an uncaring, and a fiscally illogical approach to this problem. Prop. 36 worked. Readily available data shows an initial savings of $275 million to the state during the tenure of the program alone. This doesn’t even begin to address the social impact on the lives of those individuals who received services and the communities they belong to. Prop. 36 was a forward-thinking California initiative. Other states (including Arizona with their Prop. 200) have instituted similar programs, but I am not qualified to talk about them. Proposition 36:
- Saved the State of California millions of dollars.
- Re-united families, and jump-started the long process of recovery for the thousands of eligible participants.
- Began the creation of a partnership between the court systems and treatment providers. An infrastructure has been created, upon which additional funding will allow us to build.
If addiction/alcoholism is truly a disease, as it has been recognized by the American Medical Association, most treatment centers and self-help groups such as Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous, then we have a moral obligation to offer these sick citizens a fighting chance. Numerous studies have shown that; treatment works and is more socially and cost-effective than incarceration in our already overburdened correctional system. I am only a concerned citizen, who voted for Prop. 36. The data is readily available. If we can change lives, while saving money. We must. We may not win the ‘War on Drugs’, but we can make inroads by winning certain, well administrated battles. A new and /or expanded program must be considered for funding. I ask only that you and your staff put some serious thought towards this issue. 63% of voters agreed in 2007, and I believe a new ballot initiative or referendum will reflect similar numbers. I thank you in advance for your time, and the possibility of renewing serious debate on this issue. While the opportunity for additional funding for the fiscal year 2008, may have passed, 2009 is getting close. It is both logical and humanitarian. I hope to see action taken on this as soon as possible.
