If our governor and his team thinks that hiring more law enforcement is going to control the out-of-control drug problem in our towns and state, they need to think again.

As seen elsewhere, this approach puts the small-time dealers and users, with small amounts on them, in jail for a short time with no treatment or options if they want to change their lifestyles of addiction or abusing drugs. Many don’t even realize there’s a better life off drugs.

Without effective treatment options, the jails fill up with small-time dealers and users who share their ways on how to be better at their game on the outside. It’s just the way it is.

We’re not going to scare drug addicts off drugs by jailing them. It only turns them into a smarter drug abuser or dealer by what they learn from others in jail.

It’s hard to promote awareness that there is a better way to live off drugs when there’s no treatment facilities to treat them in.

Paul LePage likes to make his mark, so I’d recommend taking a few of these empty state-owned buildings and turn them into effective inpatient detox and treatment centers solely run by the state for both long- and short-term drug treatment.

It’s a simple solution, and so much more effective than wasting money on law enforcement, who keep chasing their tails with more excuses there not enough law enforcers.

Todd Pooler, Augusta