WINNING BATTLES IN THE WAR ON DRUGS

There was a reason to celebrate last Tuesday. Many local
organizations -- including police departments, county and city offices,
media outlets, schools and businesses -- were honored with an award
from the Governor's Office of Drug Control Policy, the Partnership for
a Drug-Free Iowa and the Partnership for a Drug-Free America for the
work they've done to stem the flow of illegal drug use and sales in
the Gateway area. But the work is far from over, because while meth
labs numbers are decreasing in the state, Iowa still has a high number
of drug-affected child abuse cases and the state is above the national
average for meth use and binge drinking. And although the number of
meth lab incidents is down, the state is seeing more foreign meth or
meth imported from other countries to fill the void of what was being
produced in the U.S. Locally, several members of the New Directions
Board of Directors expressed concerns about the challenges facing the
Gateway area in the fight against drugs.

Local needs include a detoxification center, which officials say is
critical to recovery from abuse.

Clinton does not have a detox center -- one was closed in the area
years ago due to the prohibitive cost. In its place, the Clinton
County Jail has turned out to be a detox center -- albeit one that is a
forced form of treatment. It's good that people are forced away from
their addictions, but it puts a legitimate strain on the jail and its
staff. In the fight against meth, good steps have been taken.

Chief among them is the state enactment of the pseudoephedrine law to
limit the sale of the drug and hopefully the creation of meth. State
officials have commended the work of the Clinton Meth Reduction
Coalition that has become a model for meth prevention projects in
other communities, which includes a meth hotline to report suspicious
activity to put a stop to meth's manufacturing, sale and use. Another
one of the best ways to combat the negative trends is through local,
state and federal cooperation between law enforcement agencies and
anti-drug organizations and strong prevention and treatment programs.
Last week's recognition shows many here are onboard in the fight.

Here's hoping that all the work will keep people -- preteens, teenagers
and adults as well -- from ever seeking that first high and chasing it
over and over again.