DRUG TASK FORCE FUNDING SHRINKS STATE TREATMENT, EDUCATION STRESSED

OWENSBORO, Ky. - A Western Kentucky drug task force has had its funding cut
as the state shifts resources to drug treatment and education.

"This comes as a bit of a surprise," said Cheyenne Albro, director of the
Pennyrile Narcotics Task Force, which covers a 10-county area.

The task force lost more than $70,000 in funding from the federal Edward
Byrne grant administered by the state each year for law-enforcement
purposes, Albro said.

Last fiscal year, the task force received $454,000 of the $7.5million
awarded through the grant program to the state, said Chris Gilligan,
spokesman for the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet.

The Pennyrile task force requested $456,000 for the current fiscal year,
which began in July, and was awarded $381,427 of the $6.9million awarded to
the state, Gilligan said.

"There wasn't enough money to go around for everybody," Gilligan said. "We
know we had some good programs that weren't funded. We had to make some
tough choices."

Gov. Ernie Fletcher last week announced the formation of a comprehensive
drug-control plan that includes the creation of the Office of Drug Control
Policy and greater emphasis on treatment and education.

The plan was based on the recommendations of the Statewide Drug Control
Assessment Summit, which issued its report last week after meeting with
community and law-enforcement groups around the state during the past five
months.

The shift to education and treatment factors into the cuts in task-force
funding, Gilligan said. Funding to 31 task forces in the state that receive
Byrne grant money was cut at least 5percent, and then other factors were
taken into account in determining how much each task force would receive, he
said.

The Pennyrile task force received a 15percent reduction, which Gilligan said
was about average for the drug task forces. The group has been receiving
Byrne grant money since 1988, he said.

Albro said more resources should be devoted to drug treatment and
rehabilitation, but the money should not come at the expense of law
enforcement.

"I'm really for that, but the problem is you take away from the effort to
arrest people," he said. "Generally, when someone is arrested is when they
realize they need treatment."