Jail’s drug program can break the cycle

Simply placing addicts in jail doesn’t work because they eventually came back out and repeat the cycle that put them in jail originally. It’s sad but true,

Even though they don’t use drugs while in jail, they’re not being treated or addressing the problems in their lives. The disease of addiction is still inside them — it merely is being forced to be dormant until they are released. Once released, they helplessly relapse into the destructive lifestyle that sent them to jail.

A lot of time and taxpayer money has been wasted.

Now there’s an alternative.

I am one of 14 inmates currently in the Boyd County Detention Center’s Substance Abuse Program (S.A.P.). I also am an example of this cycle of incarceration and relapse into drug addiction. However, this time I’m not muddling through my days waiting to get out and use drugs. In this program, I’m growing as a person and becoming stronger in my recovery in preparation for my return to society.

My group and I are accountable for our actions at all times. We share, trust, are honest and accept responsibility. We respect and direct each other. We are understanding, unselfish and structured. We’re changing our lives.

Jailer Joe Burchett, Boyd Circuit Judge Marc Rosen and especially my group counselor, Ray Cox, should all be respected and thanked for their efforts in making this program available.

This area is long overdue for a well constructed solution like this one before any more parents, children, family and friends are lost to prisons and graveyards.

I pray you are never faced with a loved one or family member who is struggling with addiction. But if you are, be thankful this program has been made available locally where it is needed the most.

Michael David May, Ashland



We need to get over sour grapes

Had to comment on a couple of letters with no facts to support their opinions.

The carbon tax has not been discussed yet, much less voted on.

The Bush tax cuts were in three steps, and only the tax cut on people earning more than $250,000 will be allowed to expire. Their tax will increase from 36 percent to 39 percent.

Before the Bush tax cuts, the income of the top 1 percent quadrupled between 1979 and 2001. After the Bush tax cuts, government revenues dropped in 2004 to the lowest levels since 1950, before Medicare, Medicaid and interstate highways. Tax cuts accounted for $297 million dollars less revenue in 2004 and was estimated by the Congressional Budget Office at the time to total $3.7 billion over 10 years, which was conservative.

President Bush estimated the tax cuts would create 5.5 million jobs, but we had only 688,000 jobs created the first year before dropping.

In case you don’t know it, you already are playing less taxes under Obama every time you draw your paycheck. They are putting caps on credit card charges which would be like a tax cut for everyone.

We need to get over the sour grapes and blame game and move forward. It’s a shame the Republicans can only say no and have no ideas of their own. It seems the only voices we hear are the new leaders of the Republican Party: Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter and Joe the Plumber.

C. Wayne Tipton, Ashland