The article "Substance Abuse Treatment Found Lacking in Correctional Facilities" in the June 2 issue reported on the miniscule percentage of prisoners who receive any kind of substance abuse "services." What the article did not mention is the prevalence of addictive substances in jails and prisons.

Apparently no facility has successfully solved its own substance abuse problems. The article did not deal with the fact that financial pressures on law enforcement and correctional personnel undermine many efforts on the "war on drugs." Until authorities are willing to make jails and prisons truly drug free, talk about true treatment of inmates will not begin.

Sheldon B. Cohen, M.D.

Atlanta, Ga.