Pubdate: Sun, 06 Aug 2000
Source: Standard-Speaker (PA)
Website: http://www.standardspeaker.com/
Address: 21 N. Wyoming St., Hazleton, PA 18201
Contact:  2000 The Standard-Speaker

TREATMENT, AND ENFORCEMENT, ARE NEEDED IN DRUG WAR

One thing Carbon County Commissioner Thomas Gerhard's critics can never say
about him is that he's not consistent.

Like a clock that never loses its time, Gerhard sticks to simple things in
his life as a public servant. He is a strong believer that government should
play virtually no role in the private lives of its citizens - that too many
tax dollars go to fund goody-goody programs that never seem to work.

Unfortunately, the commissioner sometimes turns his wrath toward efforts
that deserve better. Once more, Gerhard has opposed county funding of drug
and alcohol treatment programs. He voted Thursday against a "purchase of
service agreement" involving the county's Children and Youth Services agency
and a Pittsburgh firm that would direct its prevention efforts toward
substance-abusing youths.

In stating his opposition, Gerhard offered some narrow-minded platitudes.

The commissioner believes that if "you want to clean up the drugs in this
country, then stop them where they're coming from and pass laws and enforce
them. And don't give me this tear-jerky stuff when you rubber-stamp
everything" related to funding treatment programs and centers.

Gerhard reasonably argues that those who do and sell the drugs should be
responsible for their actions. Throwing the scoundrels in jail surely will
rid the country of its substance-abuse scourge.

How wonderful a world it would be if everything worked so simply.

Just say no.

And if they don't, toss them in the already-overcrowded prison system until
they learn their lesson.

But what the commissioner's views neglect is the many billions of taxpayer
money already wasted on the so-called national drug war. Massive law
enforcement efforts have made no dent whatsoever in the trade. Still,
legislators continue to pour more good money after bad in this
well-intentioned but poorly conducted onslaught.

At this weeks's Shadow Convention in Philadelphia, which played against the
Republican National Convention in the same city, many of Gerhard's fellow
conservatives, led by commentator Arianna Huffington, bemoaned the wasteful
federal spending in the drug war. While their overall position on the matter
may not be the answer either, they rightly point out the national futility
in this endeavor.

Enforce the drug laws? Of course, and with vigilance.

But to think that simply arresting people will stop drugs is small-minded.
As proven many times before, one drug dealer will simply be replaced by
another.

What's needed is a combined effort toward punishment and treatment. The best
way to stop drugs at their source is not only to stymie the distributors but
also to deter the consumers. Prevention and education efforts the like of
which Carbon will make are just as vital a part of the equation.

In many cases, Gerhard's tenacity is to be admired. But that also must be
tempered with thoughtfulness and sensitivity toward the issues, particularly
one that tears at our society as much as drug abuse.

He needs to rethink his position on this matter, as much for his government
as for his neighbors.
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