CATHOLIC CHURCH WEIGHS IN ON DRUGS

First, the motionless body is found on the bathroom floor. Then, on the
counter next to the body, police find several hypodermic syringes, a narrow
belt with a loop at one end and a spoon with the ugly remains of black-tar
heroin. Attempts to revive the victim are unsuccessful. Toxicology later
proves the obvious. And, of course, teary-eyed friends and relatives grieve
despite the numbing frequency of such tragedies.

It's the all too familiar routine that has visited too many families in
northern New Mexico.

Now, in the heart of the state's drug epidemic, one of the region's
strongest and most respected institutions -- the Archdiocese of Santa Fe --
is taking action. In the midst of a four-part community forum, local Roman
Catholic leaders are asking how the church can better marshal its
considerable influence and resources toward combating the scourge of drug
addiction and its deadly consequences. The initiative is to be applauded.

More than 150 people gathered to hear Archbishop Michael Sheehan and other
speakers at the first session last week in Espanola. In a fitting tribute,
Sheehan has dedicated the series to the memory of Karen Castanon and Ricky
Martinez. Both of La Villita, the two 17- year-old Los Alamos High School
students were the victims of a Good Friday shooting while making their
pilgrimage to Chimayc last year. Their killer was drunk and high on cocaine.

The scope of New Mexico's drug problem is massive. Last year there were 46
drug-caused deaths in the state's five northern counties where the problem
is most acute. Statewide, narcotics-induced deaths have claimed more than
200 lives annually for several years. While Rio Arriba leads all counties
in these per-capita fatalities, New Mexico has the dubious distinction of
leading the nation in the same category.

Sheehan suggests that the church could provide more counseling. After more
information is gathered and the series is complete, he will issue a
pastoral letter to be read at mass at each of the nearly 100 parishes in
the archdiocese. Sheehan should also be contemplating other actions the
church might take. After all, the archdiocese is well-funded and has an
enormous reach.

At the core of any effort should be stronger prevention, intervention and
drug education efforts. Fundamentally, this is a health issue. But as
Sheehan and others correctly point out, it's a moral issue, too.