Pubdate: Tue, 15 Oct 2002
Source: Baltimore Sun (MD)
Copyright: 2002 The Baltimore Sun, a Times Mirror Newspaper.
Contact:  http://www.sunspot.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/37
Author: Jonathan D. Rockoff

RILEY VOWS TO MOVE DRUG ABUSE PROGRAM

Saying drugs are a scourge on the county requiring an innovative response, 
Douglas B. Riley, the Republican candidate for county executive, has vowed 
to move the Office of Substance Abuse into the executive's office and vowed 
to stress prevention.

"This action will put drug dealers on notice that Baltimore County is not a 
drug-friendly place," Riley said in a position paper.

Riley would move the substance abuse office from the county Department of 
Health so the county executive could "personally oversee" the various 
efforts to combat drug abuse and drug-related crime.

In Riley's plan, the move would be part of a broader reorganization of the 
county's anti-drug initiatives to emphasize prevention, especially in 
county schools by beefing up programs educating schoolchildren about the 
dangers of drugs.

Riley said he also would enhance efforts, using the media, to warn adults 
about the dangers. And he would make it easier for the public to alert the 
authorities about drug activity.

"Despite our efforts, the problems remain," Riley said. "It's time to take 
a different tack."

The three-page plan was short on specifics. Instead, Riley recommended 
forming a committee of police, educators, court staff and other related 
parties that would make suggestions after soliciting the public's opinion.

Democrat James T. Smith Jr., who is planning to unveil his policy 
prescriptions for public safety today, said it would be wrong to move the 
substance abuse office to the county executive's suite.

Smith said he would have a "criminal-justice coordinator" managing 
public-safety matters - not just drug issues - from the county executive's 
office.

To combat the drug problem, Smith said he would try to increase cooperation 
with Baltimore City officials to crack down on drug trafficking. And he 
would work with area hospitals to get them government grants to treat addicts.

"I want the hospitals to be the first line of attack," Smith said.

Arrests for possession of marijuana, heroin, crack and other narcotics 
dropped in the county last year 30.6 percent, to 263, county police said.
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