ARE WE COMMITTED TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE FIGHT?

Messenger-Inquirer City and county leaders say they denied Community
Solutions' request for funding through the wellness initiative because
of turf issues that exist among substance abuse groups.

There's more than a little irony to that reasoning, particularly
coming from local governments who have engaged in numerous "turf"
battles and continue to do so to this day.

But it also shows a lack of understanding about the substance abuse
efforts taking place in this county. And it even raises questions
about just how committed some of our local officials are to addressing
an obvious and growing problem.

Community Solutions asked for $2.8 million (later reduced to $2.2
million) of the $7.8 million in assets that local governments received
from the dissolution of ODCH Inc.

It received nothing and was the only one of the seven finalists not to
be funded. As a token gesture, the city and county put aside $300,000
for substance abuse prevention to be handed out later.

Some "turf battles" do exist and need to be worked out. But the issue
causing the disagreement is but one portion of Community Solutions'
proposal, and it was caused by only two providers who were looking to
protect their own interests.

What about Community Solutions' efforts to address drug treatment for
juveniles, which is currently nonexistent in Daviess County? Or the
efforts that the group continues to make in bringing prevention,
treatment and law enforcement providers together to gauge needs and
educate the public?

The Healing Place, the one area of the proposal that did cause some
controversy, is not a new idea, nor is Community Solutions the first
to bring it up. It's a nationally recognized program in Louisville
that has been replicated in places such as Lexington, Athens, Ga., and
Raleigh, N.C., and is considered a Models That Work program by the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Two years ago, respected leaders such as former City Commissioner
Olive Burroughs and then-City Manager Ron Payne looked into the
possibility of bringing The Healing Place to Owensboro. And their
efforts led to a commitment to filling the gaps that exist in
substance abuse care.

Those gaps still exist today, and we're fortunate to have a group like
Community Solutions working to address these issues. It's just a shame
some local officials don't see it that way.

Mayor Waymond Morris said that some of the $300,000 put aside could
potentially go to schools' work on a consolidated curriculum for drug
abuse prevention. "... I feel like local school systems are in better
position to deal with curriculum than others."

We wonder whether Morris even understands how the schools reached the
point of considering the consolidated curriculum. It started through
an effort by local prevention specialists, with which Community
Solutions was involved, to get schools to participate in a survey to
determine whether -- and how often -- students were using drugs and
alcohol. That data led to discussions on how to address the problem
and eventually to the local Agency for Substance Abuse Policy board
helping to fund a consolidated prevention curriculum.

Taking nothing away from the schools, but without Community Solutions
and the work of many throughout the prevention community, there would
be no consolidated prevention program.

If city and county officials don't fully understand the problems that
exist with substance abuse, or recognize the groups trying to do
something about it, then that can be changed with more education.

If they simply aren't interested in making a financial commitment to
combating substance abuse, then we have a much greater problem -- one
voters should take into account in coming elections.