PREVENTION, TREATMENT FUNDS NEEDED

Punishment Along Won't Win Fight

Gov. Jeb Bush may be a new recruit in Florida's war on drugs, but his
recent announcement to boost state funding for prevention and
treatment programs carries the mark of a veteran.

Bush realizes that an effective campaign against illicit drug use
cannot be won by law enforcement alone. Thus, the governor's $540
million plan should be lauded for putting money into a less dramatic
but still important part of the war.

The anti-drug proposal calls for spending an additional $27.8 million
on drug abuse prevention and treatment programs. The money will pay
for 9,469 new beds for treatment, a big boost to the state's anti-drug
and public health arsenals.

The plan also contains $39.1 million for the state's youth tobacco
awarness media campaign and provides $1.4 million to help infants born
to drug-addicted parents. An additional $786,000 is included to survey
youths about drug use. The information will be used to shape future
anti-drug strategies.

Bush didn't slight law enfrcement. His plan includes $2.9 million for
new drug enforcement units in Central and South Florida, two areas
where cocaine and heroin use are prevalent, and another $701,737 for
new prosecutors and public defenders to handle drug cases in Florida
courts.

The state's drug problems are huge. Roughly 1.2 million residents, or
about 8 percent of Florida's population, use drugs. The state remains
a major narcotics conduit. Most of the cocaine siezed by U.S. Customs
goes through Florida.

Bush has done his part. Now it's up to the Florida Legislature to
ratify what is a sound strategy bringing more education and treatment
to the state's efforts to win the war on drugs.