HURRAY FOR STATE'S DRUG PREVENTION PROGRAMS

Tennessee finally has study results to celebrate: The state had the lowest
rates in the nation for both alcohol abuse and marijuana use.

A study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services showed about 6
percent of Tennessee residents 12 and older had abused alcohol in the past
year, and about 7.4 percent had used marijuana in the same period.

The highest rate of alcohol abuse in the nation was North Dakota at 10.83
percent, and Alaska showed the highest rate of marijuana use at 16.65
percent. The results were obtained from about 125,000 representative home
interviews in 2002 and 2003.

We are pleased at the good results, even though no reasons were given for
why Tennessee had the lowest rankings.

So, what are we doing right?

Dr. Stephanie Perry, a physician in the state's Department of Health, said
the department has made alcohol and drug prevention programs a priority.
"We try to target what is needed most in each community," he said,
emphasizing the after-school programs that address teen issues, including
self-esteem, team building and family focus.

It must also be noted that Tennessee falls in the Bible Belt. U.S. Rep.
Zach Wamp, R-Chattanooga, had this to say: "Values, morals, religious
convictions and upbringing of children have a whole lot to do with these
outcomes."

Wamp said he quit drinking 21 years ago to improve his health.

Ron Stewart, senior pastor at Grace Baptist Church in Karns, also voiced
the importance of religious values. He said there are more than 3,000
Southern Baptist churches in Tennessee, and most of them preach about the
benefits of abstinence from drugs and alcohol.

"I would hope, and I would believe that a great part of the reason for this
survey result has to be what is being done through these churches," he said.

We think it's probably a combination of both effects - the programs
sponsored by the state health department and Tennessee's heritage of values
and morals that often are tied to its churches.

While we believe this study is something to be proud of, we also must
remember that Tennessee is facing a very strong menace in the use of
methamphetamine and the illegal labs where it's made.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration raided about 1,200 clandestine
meth labs in Tennessee between October 2003 and August 2004, an increase of
nearly 400 percent from 2000.

In addition, Tennessee officials removed an estimated 750 children from the
custody of meth abusers last year, an increase from 2003.

None of that is good news, but it's promising that Tennessee clearly knows
how to fight alcohol and drug abuse. We need to take what we know and apply
it to the new threat.

In the meantime, it wouldn't hurt to shout a short "amen" for what we're
doing right in Tennessee.