DARE ESSENTIAL IN ALL SCHOOLS - CYCLE OF ABUSE - DUNMYER OPENS NEW BUSINESS

The same day the Daily Telegraph featured an editorial on the high cost of
crime - paying for housing of prisoners in West Virginia - there was a
letter to the editor from Scott Burton of Princeton about the Drug Abuse
Resistance Education (DARE) program.

And, just the day before, state officials released a report saying Driving
Under the Influence and domestic violence cases account for the most
incarcerations in the Mountain State.

Somehow, all that information seems to tie together.

Burton said a national report indicates the number of admissions to
substance abuse programs for marijuana abuse has increased 350 percent from
1992 to 2002. Apparently marijuana is the most commonly used drug with
approximately 15 million users, cocaine follows with 2 million users and
hallucinogens are next with 1 million. He said the survey also shows that
about 6 million people have used prescription drugs for non-medical purposes.

There was no report on the legalized use of methadone, but I think it would
be interesting to know how many people in the United States are receiving
the substance through legal clinics. While supporters of the program say it
is the best way to bring people down from drugs, others protest it is
simply a legal, cheaper way to get a buzz or even be "high."

Burton challenges us in his letter to find out if local schools have a DARE
program or an equivalent and how well they are funded.

Increased crime levels and high use of drugs appear to go hand in hand.
Many criminal cases in Circuit Court are drug or alcohol use related crimes.

A few years ago, there was a major push for DARE programs in all schools.
Somehow, funding was reduced and many police departments and schools were
forced to drop the programs. They are much-needed.

Reducing the number of driving under the influence cases, which result in
the subject being incarcerated, would be beneficial to the defendant and
the taxpayer.

We need to give more attention to prevention programs. It would make a
difference in many lives if they are reached in their early years and
halted on a path of alcohol or drug use. And, we could use our tax dollars
for other services instead of housing prisoners.

As for domestic violence, Band-Aids are in use but a solution to the
problem is still being sought by bright minds around the world.

Because statistics prove that family abuse is a cycle - a child sees his
father hit his mother and thinks that's the way family life is so he abuses
his wife or girlfriend when he grows us.

That cycle must be broken before any headway can be made.

Officials at the Princeton-Mercer County Chamber of Commerce are thrilled
with their new home - the historic McNutt House located at the corner of N.
Walker Street and Honaker Avenue. A local bank has donated furniture for
two offices and other items are being contributed. There may be other
pieces of furniture or items they need. Anyone wishing to give the chamber
a Christmas present might want to check with Robert Farley or Keith Circle
at the chamber office, at 487-1502.

They are attempting to keep the historic theme in one or more of the rooms,
also.

Farley and Circle hope to have it completed by January when an open house
is planned.

There are lots of rumors that the State Police will move into the former
chamber office on Oakvale Road, which is a short distance away from the
current location.

A new shopping complex apparently moving forward for the same section is
expected to take the current State Police office.

Dunmyer Health Care Group, owned and operated by Dan Dunmyer, is open and
flourishing in Princeton. One of the newest members of the Princeton-Mercer
County Chamber of Commerce (which Dunmyer currently heads as president for
2004), the consulting firm project causes speculation among many of the
Dunmyer family's friends that they will continue to make Princeton their home.

Apparently the new firm is keeping Dunmyer busy. He is well respected and
admired in the health care industry, so success is no surprise.