DA IS RIGHT: COMMUNITY MUST UNITE TO BATTLE DRUGS

Northumberland County District Attorney Tony Rosini has been calling
for more action by the community in battling drugs. His latest, but
certainly not his first, pitch for more community involvement was made
this week at a meeting of People for Progress Coalition.

Rosini made his case eloquently and forcefully, and those who heard it
agreed that his words make sense. Law enforcement efforts are vital,
but they can only go so far. It's important for the community to take
concerted action to discourage young people from using dangerous and
illegal drugs.

The district attorney has statistics which provide clear evidence that
the drug problem in our area is far more serious than it was two
decades ago. The popularity of heroin and crack cocaine is cause for
real concern. Those who adopt an ostrich mentality and pretend the
problem doesn't exist or merely choosing to ignore it are doing
neither themselves nor their families any favors.

Even if families are not affected by drugs directly, increased drug
use in a region impacts negatively on the overall quality of life. An
increase in other crimes can generally be attributed, at least in
part, to the proliferation of drugs.

If parents are not taking a proactive approach in talking to their
children about drugs or if they are ignoring warning signs, they need
to change their philosophies. Clearly, parents are the best line of
defense when it comes to protecting their children.

Drug prevention is a priority of schools, but it doesn't hurt to
reassess the effectiveness of the programs that are in place.
Churches, community groups and youth sports organizations should also
discuss among their respective members whether there is anything more
that they can do.

What it may take is for all these groups -- parents, educators,
community organizations and law enforcement -- to work together in a
concerted campaign to educate young people and provide positive
reinforcement for them. Perhaps the time is now for scheduling of
brainstorming sessions in each community to bring all these groups
together in common cause.