FANNIN DISCUSSES ANTI-DRUG PROGRAM

BONHAM Discussion on a program to help drug addicts, a grant from the
Texas attorney general to automatically notify victims when an offender is
released from the county jail and a shortage of funds in the Indigent
Health Care Department took place Monday when the Fannin County
Commissioners Court met.

Drug court

Hal fowler, with Fannin County Adult Probation, talked about the program to
keep alcoholics and drug addicts clean and sober for at least one year. "We
think, if we can do that, we have broken that cycle and it gives them some
firm footing to go on and live a productive life."

Across the country, drug courts don't traditionally deal with big numbers
of people because of the intensity of the program and what they're required
to do. Large numbers of people can't participate, Fowler said. Clients
chosen are required to report to a probation officer twice a week and go to
counseling two or three times each week for a year.

One person has graduated, Fowler said.

Commending team members: Fannin County Attorney Richard Glaser, sheriff
Kenneth Moore, Bonham Police Chief Mike Bankston and state District Judge
Lauri Blake, Fowler said the judge is a pivotal person.

"She's intent on making this program work. All these people, the heavy
hitters, are committed to this program and we try to convey that to the
people to let them know that a lot of people are pulling for them."

"I was apprehensive," Moore said. "Dealing with these people on a daily
basis, my compassion level tends to be lower. But it we can save one or two
a year, we've done a great deal."

Glaser shared Moore's apprehension because his office only sees the bad end
of the drug cases, he said.

"It increases the workload in Hal's office several fold because this is not
an alternative to prison. It's made for a life change," Glaser said. "It's
intensive and it's not easy. They (participants) go through 90 days of
daily visits to Alcoholics Anonymous.

"Some will slip back and some will fail, but I'm enthusiastic," he said.
"If we can change just a few and get them out of that drug culture, our
volunteer time will have been worth while."

[Remainder of article, non-drug policy related, snipped]