Thank you for quoting state Sen. Eric Brakey, R-Auburn, co-chair of the Health and Human Services Committee, in your Aug. 28 article on the decline in funding to fight the opioid crisis in Maine.
He deserved credit and praise for what he said: “It’s easy to say ‘yes’ to things that don’t cost taxpayers money. And when we talk about programs that do cost money, we should do a cost-benefit analysis. But I would happily take dollars away from incarcerating people for drug offenses and put that toward treatment.”
I am publicly stating my encouragement to our state leaders to take action to make this happen. Treatment needs to be possible while people are crying out for help. It is for the common good. Imprisonment won’t free them from the power of drugs or help their families.
I encourage you to write or call those who represent you to take action to make this happen so dollars are spent to heal, not to imprison.
Mary Jane Sullivan
Brunswick
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