CRIMEWATCH: MARIJUANA TRADE ENSNARES STREET KIDS

It's no surprise to most people that marijuana deals occur in the open
in Eugene. If you're between 15 and 25, you need only stroll through
certain parts of town for a minute or two before you'll be approached
and offered marijuana.

Some view that as an accepted part of Eugene's unique character.
However, most people don't know that it's taking a toll on homeless
and at-risk young people.

Given the ambivalence in our community about the sale and use of
marijuana, adult dealers find it easy to recruit homeless and at-risk
youngsters to sell their drugs. The dealers often use selling
marijuana as a first step in grooming young people for further
involvement in illegal and dangerous activities.

The dealer who needs to sell but isn't willing to risk arrest sees it
as a win-win situation. Children who are conned into selling marijuana
find they can "earn" food and shelter.

As the relationship continues, the dealer raises the stakes. It's no
longer enough for the young person to sell a "baggie" - now the job
includes selling or holding methamphetamine or heroin. That escalation
continues into other crimes.

The relationship and the profit it brings to the adult create a
barrier for young people who may want to seek help from social
services agencies. It also keeps service providers from reaching the
youngsters.

Some counselors estimate that the number of homeless young people who
use shelter and other support services in Eugene is down more than 50
percent due to the lure of easy money on the streets.

That's especially troublesome because there are a growing number of
services available to homeless and at-risk children. For example, the
Safe & Sound project offers a hotline, 685-SAFE, that directly links
teen-agers to free medical care. It also offers support for victims of
sexual assault, assistance in obtaining stable housing, parent
reconciliation, education and more.

Eugene police recognize the role adult dealers play in the
"subculture" of homeless and at-risk young people. They work with
prosecutors to identify and target adult offenders.

The traditional role of police and prosecutors has evolved into a
partnership with social service agencies, business owners and
residents. That kind of comprehensive approach will have a positive
impact on addressing young people's issues in Eugene.

It's too simplistic to believe that stopping the open-air sale of
marijuana will fix the problem of homeless and at-risk children. We
need to look at the bigger picture of why kids are living on the
street, and why their needs aren't being met.

What we know is that stopping the marijuana problem on the streets may
help funnel some homeless and at-risk young people toward the services
designed to help them.