DRUG CONFERENCE PRODUCES MANY IDEAS

Federal agents and North Charleston residents and community leaders ended a
three-day drug conference Wednesday, offering several solutions to the
growing problem, from improving parent-child relationships to creating more
after-school programs for children.

The conference, held by the Drug Enforcement Agency, is designed to partner
federal agents with local law enforcement to target drug dealers who have
infiltrated area neighborhoods.

The federal agency chose North Charleston - along with Allentown, Pa., and
Portsmouth, Va. - to participate in the pilot program that also focuses on
ways to strengthen communities and curb demand once dealers have been ousted.

"We now have everybody thinking about how to solve the problems instead of
just the police, schools and social service agencies," said police Chief
Jon Zumalt, who participated in the three-day event at the North Charleston
Convention Center. "Everybody is going to have to work together."

Suggestions gathered during the conference will be compiled into a book by
the National Crime Prevention Council. Participants will rate those
suggestions in the next 10 days, then forward them to Mayor Keith Summey.
The mayor is expected to create a task force to find ways to implement the
solutions.

Though the conference offered a chance for concerned residents and leaders
to brainstorm ways to fight drugs, some wondered if it would have any
long-term effect.

"There is no money involved, so I don't see how much we will accomplish,"
said Councilman Bob King. "I think we should have had a regional meeting
because drugs know no boundaries."