ANTI-DRUG GROUP FOCUSES ON STRATEGIC PLAN

Group Wants Statistics To Help Shape Direction

A local grassroots organization committed to fighting the war on
drugs says it needs to develop a strategic plan to pinpoint which
controlled substances are being abused in the community.

Champions for a Drug Free Owensboro-Daviess County met Thursday at
the River Valley Behavioral Health training room, looked at what drug
problems the community is facing and took the initial step of forming
a team to do something about the problems.

Debbie Haley, prevention specialist at River Valley, said among the
data needed to identify problems are statistics from Owensboro and
Daviess County school systems.

"We need the school data to see what youth are at risk of here and
what kind of prevention steps can be taken," Haley said. "Then we can
see if the problem is teen drinking, methamphetamine or just a lack
of treatment."

Haley said she'd like to see statistics compiled that are comparable
to a Kentucky youth risk behavior survey conducted from 1997-99.

The survey has useful information as to how the state compares
nationally but doesn't include local statistics.

Once the data are collected, Champions can develop a strategic plan
that will include education and environmental strategies.

"But we can't go to people with our strategies without the data, and
that's why gathering it is so important," Haley said.

Several experts on drug usage and prevention spoke during the
meeting, including Circuit Court Judge Tom Castlen; Mike Todd,
director of substance abuse services at River Valley; Dianne
McFarling, early intervention specialist at River Valley; Daviess
County Sheriff Detective Sgt. Jim Acquisto and Sgt. Connie Chapman of
the Owensboro Police Department special enforcement unit.

Castlen touted the success of the Daviess County Drug Court that
began in January. He also provided statistics that painted a picture
of prisons not replacing the rehabilitation most inmates need.

While drug courts across the nation have been successful, Castlen
said, they aren't for everybody, and funding and manpower limit who
can participate .

Todd said River Valley is plagued by the same problems, especially
since many insurance companies stopped picking up the tab on drug
rehabilitation programs for family members.

Todd said community understanding of drug addiction is lacking.

"People need a better understanding of what addiction is," Todd said.
"Most people don't understand it unless they work closely with it or
see it first hand."

Acquisto and Chapman touched on the community's methamphetamine epidemic.

"Everybody is involved with the drug problem," Acquisto said.

Chapman said education and rehabilitation are two keys to battling the problem.