NEW TACTICS NEEDED IN WAR AGAINST DRUGS

The recent arrest of Gov. Jeb Bush's daughter on drug charges was a
dramatic reminder that addiction occurs even in the best of families.

It's likely that Noelle Bush, who was arrested Jan. 29 on charges of
fraudulently obtaining a prescription drug, will receive the best of
care in overcoming her addiction, but many other young Floridians are
not so fortunate.

And again this year, the state budget is being balanced at the expense
of drug treatment programs and other vital social services.

To his credit, the governor supports the restoration of state funding
for drug courts, including $360,000 for the court in Brevard County,
but much more needs to be done.

Providing treatment for addicts remains a low state priority, even as
surveys indicate more young people are being lured into drug abuse by
a new generation of illicit substances and a growing variety of
prescription medications.

Example: A recent analysis by Florida Today found sharp increases in
the number of teens who report using Ecstasy and in the number of
people of all ages arrested for using the drug. Ecstasy is just one of
several newer drugs being used by young people alongside such familiar
scourges as cocaine and heroin.

"The message I'm getting is that it's getting worse," said Harold
Koenig, a Satellite Beach resident who heads H.E.A.R.T, an
organization that lobbies for more treatment options for the addicted
and mentally ill. "Our kids are really hurting, especially in Brevard
County."

On the Space Coast, there are no residential treatment centers for
teens, so after initial detoxification young people are obliged to
seek help at facilities outside the county, a process that can be very
expensive.

Social services officials are seeking $7.7 million to add 175 new beds
statewide for residential treatment for people of all ages, but their
chances of success seem slim.

Meanwhile, at the federal level, President Bush has announced he plans
to reduce illicit drug use by 25 percent in five years, a goal that
seems wildly optimistic in light of current trends.

And, as usual, only a fraction of next year's federal drug-fighting
budget -- $3.8 billion of $19.2 billion -- will be spent on treatment.

That's unfortunate. Until spending priorities change, the war on drugs
will continue to be very costly and largely ineffective.

TO LEARN MORE:

H.E.A.R.T. -- Call (321) 773-0298.

Campaign for New Drug Policies -- Call (310) 394-2952, write 1250
Sixth St., No. 202, Santa Monica, CA 90401 or visit
www.drugreform.org