Pubdate: Thu, 11 Mar 2004
Source: Huntsville Times (AL)
Copyright: 2004 The Huntsville Times
Contact:  http://www.htimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/730
Author: Juli Gerrits
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04/n317/a09.html?28588

ONLY A FRACTION

"A new state program ... won't do much" is a misleading subtitle for The 
Times' Feb. 20 editorial about a federally funded plan to help groups work 
as a coalition. The editorial states a rational person would not conclude 
that $9 million is going to do much to impede or prevent drug 
experimentation, yet a few paragraphs later it acknowledges education, 
intervention and treatment should be implemented. Such services can not be 
implemented without money.

I disagree with the statement that drug use is mostly confined to a certain 
socioeconomic segment, but even if use was confined, the impact on our 
community is not. Tax-funded treatment, lost productivity, DUI and other 
crimes resulting from substance abuse affect everyone.

The editorial accurately states that drug abuse is a medical and societal 
problem and concludes that money can help agencies deal with the drug 
problem rationally.

Drugs Offer No Tomorrow (D.O.N.T.) Inc. provides prevention education to 
approximately 10,000 students in public and private schools each year in 
Madison County.

 From 1997 to 2003, 19 percent fewer students in those schools tried 
alcohol; cigarette and marijuana use was down 14 percent and 11 percent 
respectively. Despite these successes, prevention is in jeopardy. D.O.N.T. 
may close due to a $20K budget deficit this year, and projected $88K 
deficit for FY05.

A fraction of $9 million can do much for Madison County.

Juli Gerrits, Madison

Juli Gerrits is the director of Drugs Offer No Tomorrow Inc.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom