ILLEGAL-DRUG USE IS NOT A VICTIMLESS CRIME

On a regular basis we hear the pro-drug voices raise the banner to legalize
drugs because it is a victimless crime. They try to imply that if there is
any harm done, it is done only to the user. The facts just don't support
that argument.

A U.S. Department of Justice survey revealed that 49 percent of all state
prison inmates were under the influence of drugs at the time they committed
the offense that sent them to prison. Another 17 percent stated they were
committing their offense to obtain money to buy drugs. Another study
conducted by the National Parents' Resource Institute for Drug Education
found that students who carried guns to school were 14.5 times more likely
to use illegal drugs than their peers.

The Institute for Health Policy estimated that drug-abuse-related crime
costs American society in excess of $46 billion each year. There were more
than 12,000 murders last year directly related to narcotics trafficking.
How can anyone call drugs a victimless crime?

Law enforcement agencies in Faulkner County have teamed up recently with
several elected officials holding town meetings to make the public aware of
the dangers of methamphetamine. There will be a meeting at the Vilonia High
School on Monday at 7 p.m. The last scheduled meeting will be Thursday at 7
p.m. at the Mayflower High School.

Arkansas has been consistently in the top three states in the nation in the
production of methamphetamine and the Conway Regional Drug Task Force has
raided 43 labs this year alone. The widespread usage of methamphetamine,
AKA crank or speed, can be traced back to Nazi Germany and World War II. It
is a central nervous system stimulant that was developed to allow the
German soldier to fight for days without sleep. Its effects include
increased energy, paranoia and aggression.

As a part of the effort to combat this epidemic problem, laws have been
established that allow for seizing aircraft and vehicles used to transport
drugs, monetary proceeds from drug trafficking and even houses, businesses
and land if they are used in the production or distribution of illegal
drugs. The Conway Police Department has instituted a get tough policy on
illegal drug traffic in our jurisdiction, which will include aggressively
seeking the forfeiture properties associated with the drug trade.

If you have any information about drug traffic in the Conway area, call the
Conway Police Department hotline at 450-6135.