Pubdate: Fri, 02 Dec 2005
Source: Herald-Sun, The (Durham, NC)
Copyright: 2005 The Herald-Sun
Contact:  http://www.herald-sun.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1428

DRUG BUSTS INCREASING

Police are making far more busts and seizing far more drugs in Durham 
this year than the year before. Why? It could be that more drugs are 
being smuggled into Durham, or that more citizens are reporting drug 
dealers, or that the police are being more aggressive against drugs. 
Or, and this is the most likely conclusion, it's a combination of all 
of them. The figures speak clearly. From January through October of 
2005, the Durham Police Department's Special Operations Division 
conducted 186 drug raids, compared to 139 all of last year. Police 
seized 222 pounds of cocaine during the 10 months this year, compared 
to only 83 pounds in 2004. That was a huge difference, but so was the 
jump in the amount of marijuana taken off the street -- 4,721 pounds 
this year as compared to 980 pounds last year. Similarly, officers 
grabbed 14.6 ounces of heroin this year compared to 2.8 ounces last year.

Those are impressive and welcome statistics, given the litany of woes 
that stem from the drug trade. Consider a partial list of the 
consequences of illegal drugs:

n Addicts commit crimes, create victims, go to prison, break up 
families and contribute to poverty.

n The drug trade fuels violence between dealers that impacts innocent 
bystanders and turns peaceful neighborhoods into dangerous places.

n Drugs steal health, wealth and human potential from users.

n The drug business is the foundation that supports violent criminal gangs.

We know that tough law enforcement isn't the only answer to illicit 
drug activity. Durham needs more mental health and drug 
rehabilitation facilities to deal with the root causes of drug abuse 
and addiction. But as is shown in the list above, the drug trade is 
not a victimless crime. Drugs must be taken seriously and dealt with 
aggressively by law enforcement, and we're pleased that the police 
force is doing so.

It's also a positive sign that citizens are feeling empowered to 
report drug crimes to police. Ken Gasch of Partners Against Crime, 
District 2, has been a leader in encouraging citizens to speak up 
about drugs and in pushing landlords to evict tenants who run drug 
houses. Only through a sustained effort by law enforcement and the 
community will Durham become known as a town that has no time for drug dealers.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman