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GRANT MAKES DRUG PROGRAMS FEASIBLE

The Daily Reflector Programs such as an upcoming methamphetamine workshop will now be more feasible, thanks to a $100,000 grant from the Federal Drug Free Community Support Program, officials said.

"We'll be able to do a lot more because we will have a director who can put in the time to make things happen," said Dr.  David Ames, chairman of The Pitt County Substance Abuse Coalition.  "We can pay for odds and ends so we anticipate a lot more community training, education, parenting workshops and many more of those efforts."

The funds will be used to hire a part-time director to monitor drug and alcohol abuse in the county and the impact of prevention programs, help parents prevent substance abuse and underage drinking, enhance public awareness of substance abuse and teach youth to handle the pressures of substance abuse.

The coalition has existed for a number of years but was revitalized after a City Council forum identified drug abuse as an important issue to address in the community, Ames said.  Since then, the group has joined forces with the city and others have joined the group including Pitt County Sheriff Mac Manning, Pitt County Schools Superintendent Michael Priddy and Wal-Mart manager Turner Thompson.

The group organized a September 2003 community forum on substance abuse, helped develop a county drug court and promoted National Drug and Alcohol Recovery Month in September.  Ames said it will take more than doctors to overcome substance abuse.

"We have a problem in this community and the professionals can't solve the problem alone," he said.  "The problem is too big and it affects you, so why not join us?"