TACKLING OUR DRUG PROBLEM

BOGALUSA - At least 95 percent of the autopsies performed on Washington
Parish residents who are under 40 years of age show that the deaths were
drug-related, Coroner Roger Casama told the many dignitaries, parents and
other concerned citizens in attendance at a Coroner's Town Meeting last night.

Casama vowed to reinvigorate his own efforts to help stem the substance
abuse problem through education, awareness and prevention programs. He
praised law enforcement and other local efforts. And he asked for total
community support. As the old adage goes, he said, "it takes a village" to
raise a child.

Several officials and organizations promised support.

And Casama laid out some of his plans. One involves the establishment of a
Coroner's Task Force Against Addictive Disorders board to formulate a
program to educate and rehabilitate abusers in a facility built for that
purpose, educate parents and children of the effects of abuse, obtain
grants and donations, create a program similar to Neighborhood Watch or
Drug Watch in the parish, establish a social detoxification program,
research successful programs from other states and countries, coordinate a
volunteer effort for the cause and lobby local, state and federal bodies.

Casama also said he would like to bring the Jefferson Parish Coroner's
Office "Empathy and Awareness Program" to Washington Parish if local
judges, parents and others agree. That program is offered to juvenile
offenders 12 to 17 years of age who are ordered by the court to take part
in lieu of serving jail time.

Charlene Lauricella, of that office, explained the program to those in
attendance and said it has been largely successful. The young participants
are first screened for mental health.

Those who are accepted see a sometimes-graphic slide presentation of what
can happen as a result of even minor dabbling with alcohol or drugs, and
stories of local incidents are included in the narration to help
personalize the message.

The program also includes speakers, and ends with a trip to the morgue and
their presence, for about five minutes, at an actual autopsy.

The powerful three-year-old program has reportedly been featured on
national news broadcasts. And Lauricella said that grants that could help
fund the program are available through the Juvenile Justice Department.

Numerous speakers also addressed the relationships between substance abuse,
crime and mental health, and the need for additional programs in all areas.
Casama urged everyone to get involved to help fill the needs.

Edward Ratcliff invited everyone to attend the May 25 meeting of the
Washington Parish Commission on Human Services. The meeting will be a forum
for the Florida Parishes Human Services Authority, the recently-created
state funding agent for such services and programs.

The idea is to identify the gaps in local services and to fill them, said
Ratcliff.

The meeting will take place at the YWCA at 10 a.m.