Pubdate: Sun, 31 Aug 2003 Source: Messenger-Inquirer (KY) Copyright: 2003 Messenger-Inquirer Contact: http://www.messenger-inquirer.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1285 Author: John Kazlauskas Note: John Kazlauskas is chief of the Owensboro Police Department. TACKLING DRUG PROBLEM NEEDS COMBINED EFFORT Owensboro is a good place to live, work and raise a family. All you have to do is ask those who have recently moved to our city or examine our city's crime statistics to affirm our community's reputation for being safe. But, as with all cities across our nation, we have problems that need to be addressed by the entire community. The single biggest driver of crime in Owensboro is illegal use and sale of drugs. Our local drug problem places a huge demand on our criminal justice system and has a destructive impact on family members, friends and work associates. As long as our residents demand the product, there will always be suppliers to provide it. Decrease the demand, and the supplies will diminish. There is no doubt that it is more cost-effective to educate, train and rehabilitate than to investigate, arrest, prosecute and incarcerate. We are fortunate in Owensboro that we have civic leaders who understand and support local programs, such as Community Solutions for Substance Abuse and our local Drug Court, that provide excellent assistance by helping those involved in drugs break out of the overwhelming vicious cycle that controls and devastates so many lives. I support Daviess County Jailer David Osborne's efforts to develop a rehabilitation program at the Daviess County Detention Center. The more successful these programs become, the less of a demand will be placed on our criminal justice system. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reported in June that in 2001 more than 9 percent of children younger than 18 lived with at least one parent who abused or was dependent on alcohol or drugs. The physical, social, intellectual and emotional development of children whose parents are substance abusers often is significantly impaired, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Research has shown that substance-abusing parents typically are ill-equipped to appropriately respond to their children's emotional and social needs. Consequently, levels of child abuse and neglect are higher among substance-abusing parents. Parents who abuse drugs and alcohol also tend to serve as poor role models, and children of substance-abusing parents are at the highest risk of any children for abusing drugs and alcohol themselves. Our officers can attest that Owensboro experiences these problems. In the past 36 months, the men and women of the Owensboro Police Department have been involved in investigations that have resulted in 3,726 drug arrests, but these efforts have not substantially diminished our drug problem. The man-hours associated with these arrests are staggering and place a huge demand on the police department's resources. It should be frightening to us to realize the high number of arrests by our officers involving substance abuse and the trafficking of controlled substances. The Owensboro Police Department will continue its aggressive enforcement of those who violate drug laws. We will examine every telephone tip and every piece of information that is forwarded to us. But the truth is that our community has a problem that law enforcement alone cannot solve. New and innovative approaches to educate our residents, explaining the negative effect illegal drugs have on our community and how to become involved to combat the problem are needed. It will take a combined effort from every concerned resident, every facet of our population, if we are to effect positive change. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake