Politicians and pundits and the public at large have wrangled with issues about alcoholism and drug dependence since the days of the American Revolution. Dr. Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration of Independence who has been called the father of American psychiatry, made the speaking circuit in the early 1800s lecturing about "the effects of ardent spirits upon the human body and mind with an account of the means of preventing and the remedies for curing them." Ever since, people want to know: Is it an illness or a reflection on poor morals? Can it be cured? Or is the only solution jail, the insane asylum or death? Many also ask: Why me? Why my loved one?

I get many such questions from readers each week, more than I can answer and often more than I know the answers to. But I was struck by the succinct set of questions I recently received in a student's e-mail. Her questions drove to the heart of the debate this country must resolve when the new president and new Congress assume power in 2009.

Dear Mr. Moyers: My English class currently is working on a research project that we are required to do in order to graduate. The research topic I chose is the lack of funding from the government for drug rehabilitation. I recently had an opportunity to read your autobiography, "Broken." What you wrote inspired me to do my research project on the lack of funding for drug rehabilitation, and I have a lot of questions. I also am interested in this because my best friend has two parents who are drug addicts. Because of this issue, she had to drop out of high school and get a full-time job in order to support her parents; she is only 16 years old. — Kelsey S. at Mallard Creek High School in Charlotte, N.C.

Here are Kelsey's questions:

—Why do you think that drug treatment works?

—Why do you think it sometimes takes more than one time in treatment to stop using drugs or alcohol?

—Why do you think the government doesn't try to provide as much funding as is needed for drug rehabilitation?

—If the government gave more funding, do you think there would be a positive change?

—Why do you think drug abuse continues to rise?

—Why is treatment worth the time and money?

—If rehab were cheaper, do you think it would be easier for people to receive it and be better benefits to society?

—Why do you think there is a link between drugs and crime?

Kelsey desired answers not only so she can complete a school assignment but also because of what's happened to her best friend. And I responded not just from my professional perspective but because I, too, have been impacted by addiction: my own. I will share my answers to Kelsey in future columns. In the meantime, I urge you to consider these questions and come up with your own answers.

It is time for all of us to answer the politics of addiction with public policies grounded not only in scientific studies and statistics but also in the stories and experiences of real people.

William C. Moyers is the vice president of external affairs for the Hazelden Foundation and the author of "Broken," a best-selling memoir. The paperback edition was released in August 2007. Please send your questions to William Moyers at William@WilliamMoyers.com. To find out more about William Moyers and read his past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

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