SUBSTANCE ABUSE FACTS SHOULD ALARM US ALL

I'd like to thank the News & Record for its series on crack in the
community. This series did much to awaken many in the community to the
dangers and pervasiveness of substance abuse, particularly crack, in
Guilford County. Substance abuse of all kinds -- alcohol, tobacco,
marijuana, cocaine, inhalants, methamphetamines, club drugs and the
improper use of prescription drugs -- should be in the forefront of our
thinking because we are all affected. If not personally, it may be a member
of our family or someone we know. The statistics can really be frightening.

Based on a 2003 Needs Assessment conducted by the Guilford County Substance
Abuse Coalition and results of the Guilford County Youth Risk Behavior Survey:

Current illicit drug users in Guilford County: one in 16.

Guilford County teens who used alcohol in the last 30 days: one in three.

Guilford County teens who used marijuana in the past 30 days: one in four.

These are just a few of the facts that the community needs to be aware of
and address.

The Guilford County Substance Abuse Coalition is working to bring together
service providers and Guilford County residents to develop a partnership to
effectively address substance abuse. Guilford County has the resources to
establish and implement a successful action plan to impact substance abuse.
The key to accomplishing this goal is the involvement and support of the
whole community.

George M. Coates

Greensboro

The writer is executive director, Guilford County Substance Abuse Coalition.