PICK UP THE PACE IN SOLVING PORTER COUNTY'S DRUG PROBLEM

The Issue: Porter County's Drug Problem

Our opinion: There has been little progress in developing a
multifaceted approach to addressing the drug problem in Porter County
despite all th

Eighteen people in Porter County died because of illegal drugs last
year. That's a frightening increase in a county that already was
averaging eight drug overdoses a year.

That makes it all the more appalling that the county is moving so
slowly in responding to this problem.

There has been little progress in developing a multifaceted approach
to addressing the drug problem in Porter County despite all the
attention focused on it.

The county has drawn national attention following a study that ranked
Porter County among the top counties in the nation per-capita for
heroin-related deaths.

And that's just one of the drugs plaguing the county.

Porter County Coroner Vicki Deppe's 2006 annual report includes a
variety of drugs blamed for overdoses, including heroin, cocaine,
methamphetamine and prescription drugs.

Will the number of drug fatalities continue to rise in subsequent years?

We're still waiting for a comprehensive plan that looks at
prevention, prosecution and treatment.

Deppe, who is also a nurse, is offering to do presentations on the
dangers of drugs. She should be a very busy woman.

Education about the dangers of drugs is one aspect of prevention.
Parents, school officials and youth group leaders should have Deppe's
phone ringing off the hook.

As for prosecution, that must continue. Prosecution of drug-related
crimes is soaking up taxpayers' money like a sponge, as incarceration
fills the nation's jails -- and Porter and Lake counties are no exception.

Treatment has been under discussion, but so far only one new program
has been proposed, with a planned opening in August. That's not
enough of an expansion in either the number or variety of programs offered.

This is not the kind of problem that citizens should wait for "them"
to solve. The drug problem is ripping through all aspects of the social fabric.

It is up to the citizens to demand change and keep pushing for a
comprehensive plan to address the drug problem.