DRUG-ABUSE FORUMS PLANNED BY ARCHDIOCESE

The Archdiocese of Santa Fe is intensifying its effort to fight drug abuse
in Northern New Mexico.

Beginning Saturday, the archdiocese will hold a series of forums to allow
those affected by drugs to share their stories. But the forums are
two-fold, said Steve Hay, co-director of pastoral outreach for the archdiocese.

"The hope is that ideas will come forth not only about the problem, but
solutions as well," Hay said.

The forums will begin with testimony from community members about how drugs
have affected their lives and how they may have overcome the problem. The
final hour will be dedicated to coming up with solutions on how to fight
drug abuse, he said.

Per capita, more residents in Rio Arriba County die after taking illegal
drugs than any other place in the United States, according to the New
Mexico Department of Health. The death rate is four times the national
average. The state Office of the Medical Investigator reported there were
22 drug-related deaths in Rio Arriba County in 1999.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services also reported that one out
of seven teen-agers in New Mexico used illicit drugs that year.

A panel of community leaders - including a local priest - have been invited
to attend each forum, Hay said. State Secretary of Health Alex Valdez also
will attend.

Archbishop Michael Sheehan hopes to use the testimony in a letter he will
write and publish this fall, Hay said. The letter will outline findings
from the testimonies and recommendations on how the community can take
action based on input from the forums.

Hay said Sheehan hopes to mobilize individual parishes to act first. Then
he will call for community leaders and other organizations to act as well.

Hay stressed the hearings aren't limited to Catholics. "All people of every
religion are invited to these hearings," he said.

The forums, titled "From Despair to Hope," are dedicated to the memory of
Karen Castanon and Ricky Martinez. The two teen-agers were killed last year
as they made the Good Friday pilgrimage to Chimayo.

Carlos Herrera, 20, later pleaded guilty to the murders and is serving two
consecutive life sentences. He told doctors in an evaluation that he used
cocaine and drank heavily before the murders.

The times, date and locations of the forums are:

* 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Santa Cruz Parish Hall in Espanola.

* 2-5 p.m. July 15, St. Joseph's Church, 5901 St. Joseph Drive NW in
Albuquerque.

* 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 18, the Immaculate Conception School auditorium in
Las Vegas, N.M.

* 7-10 p.m. Aug. 29, Santa Maria de la Paz Catholic Community in Santa Fe.

For additional information, call the archdiocese at (505) 831-8174.