Pubdate: Tue, 25 Oct 2005
Source: Herald-Dispatch, The (Huntington, WV)
Copyright: 2005 The Herald-Dispatch
Contact:  http://www.hdonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1454

CONVICTIONS MUST FOLLOW DRUG ARRESTS

Drug dealers have abandoned Artisan Avenue in recent months. Or else
they've become more discreet.

In any event, efforts are under way to crack down on drug dealing in
the area. Earlier this month, the Huntington Police Department, the
Cabell County Sheriff's Department and the West Virginia State Police
netted 19 arrests in Huntington on various drug charges in one night.

Arrests are good, but convictions will be better.

What is needed most, however, is for the market for illegal drugs to
dry up. As long as people buy, someone will sell.

It will soon be six months since four teenagers were gunned down in
Huntington in what could have been drug-related homicides. We don't
know for sure if drugs were involved, but the killings gave the
community reason to take back its streets from the dealers.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake