GRANT TO AID IN ANTI-DRUG FIGHT

More federal money is coming into the community to assist with the
ever-increasing drug problem found among arrestees.

Details of the Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring program (ADAM) were announced
Monday during a press conference held by U.S. Justice Department
representative Dr. Phyllis Newton.

Newton said the $100,000 grant would provide for the collection of data on
adult drug offenders.

The major goal is the creation of a collaborative strategy in Laredo and
Webb County to eliminate the use of illegal drugs and create drug treatment
programs.

Laredo Police Chief Agustin Dovalina said people arrested on drug offenses
may be voluntarily interviewed by program personnel while being booked at
the police station.

Dovalina said the interviews, which will be confidential, will most likely
be done at the department's booking room.

Newton said that by bringing the program to the police station, they would
be able to obtain much better information.

"We are bringing down the program (ADAM) to the closest level to the
streets and find out what is happening (drug use) in Webb County," said Newton.

The information gathered from those people arrested would provide
background on just what the drug treatment needs are for the area.

"By talking to the arrestees here, I know we will be making a contribution
to Laredo and Webb County," she added.

Newton said the implementation of the program in other parts of the country
has allowed authorities to track the movement of the crack epidemic from
city to city.

"We were the first program to issue a first alert (on crack)," she added.

Information gathered from the program allowed authorities to also study the
movement of methamphetamine from the East to the West Coast.

"We are seeing that too as it comes up from the border, as it raises to
other parts of the state," Newton added.

Another aspect of the program is that authorities will learn the drug
market situation in Webb County.

"What can we inform the community about the buying and selling of
particular drugs? Where is marijuana and heroin more prevalent in Webb
County?" she said.

Other information that will be gathered to assist in developing prevention
and drug treatment programs is the cost of certain drugs, she explained.

Newton emphasized that the interviews conducted by trained program
representatives will be strictly voluntary and confidential.

Chief Dovalina said Newton and investigators of the program, Dr. Cliff
Black, professor of sociology and criminal justice, and Dr. Ramon Alaniz,
professor of bilingual education had toured the police department.

"They (ADAM) will have a number of volunteers that will be coming in to do
the interviews and get the information they need for the program," Dovalina
said.

Laredo City Manager Larry Dovalina was also on hand to support the program,
along with Assistant City Manager Cynthia Collazo.

Webb County Judge Mercurio Martinez and Laredo Mayor Betty Flores will
administer the grant.

Martinez said they were glad to participate in such a strong anti-drug program.

(Staff writer Robert Garcia can be reached at 728-2565 or by e-mail at
robert@lmtonline.com)