A SUBURBAN WAR ON DRUGS IS VITAL TO STEM THE TIDE

One of the Daily Herald's most important editorials of 2010 was
published almost six months ago. Its message bears repeating now.

We must wage a war on drug abuse. That should be the resolve of law
enforcement, our communities, our schools and ourselves.

Our first editorial was written in the wake of a Roosevelt University
study that was definitive proof of heroin's hold on our suburban teens
and young adults. Death by heroin was up 130 percent in Lake County,
150 percent in three years in McHenry County and it doubled in two
years in Will County. It also showed that the majority of teens
discharged from hospitals after heroin treatment are from the suburbs,
including 25 percent from suburban Cook and 38 percent from the collar
counties.

This is not unique to Chicago's suburbs. ABC's 20/20 did an October
report that focused on suburban heroin use in Minneapolis' suburbs.
It's a national problem, one that cannot be denied, should not be
hidden. The more parents know, the better equipped they are to fight
and deal with the scourge that is heroin and the devastation that all
drug abuse causes.

Luckily, there are many instances where this is happening. It's
important to highlight those as examples for others to follow.

High school districts in Northwest Cook and Lake counties hosted a
community symposium in late October to educate the public on the
dangers of teenage substance use and abuse.

Suburban moms from Lake Zurich helped form The Ela Coalition Against
Youth Substance Abuse to fight the growing problem.

And in St. Charles in November, a community forum was held to focus on
drug trends, signs and symptoms of drug use and tips for parents.

A vital takeaway from the St. Charles forum was the role marijuana use
and drinking plays in leading teens into even harder drugs. One expert
said more teens are in treatment for marijuana dependency than all
other drugs combined.

One teen told the crowd that "from the moment I tried smoking pot and
drinking, something clicked in my body and I knew that I liked being
altered." That led to cocaine, acid and mushrooms. It led to her being
expelled and it led to criminal activity like forging checks.

It's a scary story. But every school district, every community must
hold similar forums. We resolve to highlight these efforts as part of
our role in helping to educate the public to the prevalence of drug
abuse. As a region, we must resolve to save lives and to help curb the
crime that comes along with increased drug use.

We were pleased in September to hear the new head of the Drug
Enforcement Administration in Chicago say he would target drug
activity in the suburbs. And we urge every parent to be alert, to
learn about the signs and to discuss drug abuse with their children.

Your child's life may depend on it.