Pubdate: Wed, 27 Jun 2007
Source: Asheville Citizen-Times (NC)
Copyright: 2007 Asheville Citizen-Times
Contact:  http://www.citizen-times.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/863
Author: Tony Hooker
THERE ARE OTHER APPROACHES TO FIGHTING DRUG PROBLEM

I find absurd some of the statements Councilman Carl Mumpower has 
made concerning the drug problem here in Asheville. I find hilarious 
his repeated attempts at public grandstanding in some of his attempts 
to usurp the magistrate powers of our law enforcement personnel who 
risk their lives each and every day. And for a man of his educational 
pedigree to imply grand conspiracies reeks of nothing short of 
playing to a political constituency for future political objectives.

I have a much easier remedy. I and my former high school dean of boys 
have, in concert with Buncombe County Schools officials, started a 
program that has enlisted the aid of former drug users and people 
with criminal pasts to give seminars at city and county middle 
schools on the consequences of choice. A good friend of mine and I 
have both participated in this program the last two years.

That's an unheralded and unpublicized effort to make a sincere and 
diligent attempt to "nip the problem in the bud." I would label this 
a program to correct the problem before it escalates and becomes 
unmanageable, thereby costing taxpayers for efforts to penalize and 
punish instead of educate.

Tony Hooker

Asheville 
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman