WE MUST BE ARMED WITH KNOWLEDGE TO FIGHT THE DRUG WAR

Workshop Defines Scope Of The Mid-Delta's Problem And How Difficult The
Battle Will Be

A workshop on identifying drugs and identifying the signs of drug use
doesn't really look or sound that sexy.

But then there's nothing sexy about committing a crime while on drugs, or
committing a crime to get drugs.

The workshop Monday was intended to bring home the focus. Illegal drugs are
a problem on college campuses, which put Greenville Higher Education Center
square in the focus of the workshop.

But illegal drugs also are a problem in the workplace. They also are a
problem on the streets and in middle schools and elementary schools.

Take a moment and listen to what people are saying. These quotes come from
educators, law enforcement officials and city government officials at the
workshop:

* This seminar is "in response to drug activity in the area."

* "About 70 to 80 percent of your crime is rooted or related to drugs."

* Methamphetamine "is a bad drug, and it's embedded very much into
Washington County and the Delta area."

* "It's an important issue that is impacting a lot of things happening in
our community."

* "We all know that drugs are here and are prevalent."

* "The battleground is the elementary and middle schools. It starts early."

* "Drugs are a problem in our society and obviously our schools are a part
of our society. Drugs are a major problem in our society, and our crime
rate in the Delta area reflects it."

* "If we don't get a grip with our young children we are not going to
succeed on the war on drugs."

These comments paint a picture of drug use in the Mid-Delta.

Events like Monday's workshop increase awareness. But that awareness must
be spread to the schools, workplaces - and to the streets. And that's the
difficult part - stopping drugs on the streets.

It's a constant battle between police and drug dealers. But as long as
dealers can flash wads of cash and drive fine cars, then they will be idols
to younger street entrepreneurs.

When illegal drugs take over an area, they create problems economically and
socially. As the value of the investment gets higher, the value of human
life gets lower.

To fight the fight against illegal drugs, more troops are needed, but those
troops must be educated before they can fight. Workshops like the one
Monday are one way to educate more troops for the war on drugs.