PORTER COUNTY SHOULD DECLARE AN ALL-OUT WAR ON DRUGS

The issue: Drug abuse in Porter County

Our opinion: Declare war on drugs, and pressure the County Council to
encourage alternatives to be brought to the council for possible funding.

Ask Lake County candidates what the county's biggest problem is, and
you'll likely hear, "Property taxes!" But in Porter County, the
overwhelming response is, "Drugs!"

Porter County residents' outrage needs to be converted into action.
Declare war on drugs, and execute that war with vigor. The county
ranks among the highest in the nation for per-capita heroin abuse,
now that heroin has made the transition from an urban street drug to
a suburban crisis.

With around 400 recovering addicts traveling to Gary for treatment,
Porter County was given the General Assembly's blessing to start its
own methadone clinic.

Methadone won't work for all heroin addicts, but it beats doing
nothing. Set up the clinic.

That is just one of the steps necessary to fight drug abuse in the
county, however. A broader effort is needed.

Dozens of drug-related arrests have been made at schools in Portage
and Valparaiso so far this year. Those are not the only school
systems with drug problems, but they have acknowledged the need for
help from police to clean up the schools.

Those police and school officials are to be commended for their
commitment to the students' safety.

The existing deterrence programs at schools in the county need to be
re-evaluated. Either expand them, including every grade from
kindergarten through 12, or find more effective substitutes.

This is a life-or-death matter. In 2005, the county coroner confirmed
nine people died of overdoses, and three other deaths were suspected
to be overdoses. In 2002, the county lost 15 people to overdoses.

Porter County must prove it is serious about this drug problem. Don't
just declare war; fight it hard.

Last week, the Porter County Drug Task Force made one of the biggest
crack cocaine busts in the county's history. That kind of enforcement
must be intensified.

Rehabilitation and deterrence must be stressed, too.

Residents upset about the Porter County's drug problem must pressure
the County Council to encourage alternatives to be brought to the
council for possible funding.

What's being done now isn't enough.