LOCAL INPUT WILL BE USED IN CRAFTING DRUG CONTROL POLICY

Those who live and work in Kentucky's communities are more familiar with
the substance abuse issues affecting their areas than anyone.

For that reason, the team that Gov. Ernie Fletcher and I charged to assess
drug problems in our commonwealth is spending time in every region of
Kentucky listening to citizens -- medical professionals, judges,
prosecutors, dedicated teachers, highly skilled law enforcement officers,
treatment specialists, former substance abusers and parents -- about their
ideas for combating drug abuse in their communities and on the
effectiveness of existing drug programs in their regions.

The team -- the Statewide Drug Control Assessment Summit -- is considering
all of the input it is receiving from citizens in the Daviess County area
and across the state as it discusses the recommendations it will make to
Gov. Fletcher this summer on a statewide drug control policy.

There is no question that we must change the way that substance abuse is
addressed in Kentucky. The solutions must be long-term and come at the drug
problem with the right balance of prevention-education, treatment and
enforcement.

Implementing such a comprehensive strategy will not be a simple or speedy
process, and once a plan is in place, it will take time for us to see the
results.

The feedback the Summit received at the regional public input meeting it
held in March at Owensboro and through questionnaires from people in
Daviess and surrounding counties indicates some of the intensive work that
may be ahead in reducing the drug problems in our commonwealth.

The forum in Owensboro was the 10th of the 16 regional public input
meetings that the Summit conducted throughout Kentucky. Residents of
Daviess, McLean, Ohio and Hancock counties were invited to attend this forum.

During the public meeting and through questionnaires, the people who live
and work in those counties have told the Summit team that their communities
need:

- - More drug courts.

- - More drug treatment facilities.

- - Shorter waiting periods for admittance to existing treatment programs.

- - Science-based drug prevention and education programs for children in
public schools and more education programs for adults and parents.

- - More communication between law enforcement agencies about drug issues.

- - Better coordinated strategies, with measurable objectives, for law
enforcement to use in addressing drug issues in their communities.

These messages, as well as the call for stabilized funding in each area,
have been echoed across the commonwealth. The Summit team is finding that
that list of needs is very similar in every community.

Clearly, these issues, along with the data collected from hundreds of
questionnaires from federal, state and local program leaders, will be among
the top subjects the Summit panels will discuss when they begin considering
the recommendations that the group will make to Gov. Fletcher in May and June.

There will not be a quick fix to the drug problems in the commonwealth. Our
communities will need patience and resolve as we work together to see those
recommendations through to results.

Once a comprehensive and more balanced statewide drug control policy is at
work, we should all expect greater achievements in reducing substance abuse
trafficking and use. In addition, the commonwealth will be making the best
use of its resources by directing tax dollars to drug control methods that
are proven to work.

Kentuckians have made the public input portion of the assessment a success
by taking time to share their knowledge about substance abuse in their
communities with the Summit. If you have not been able to do so yet, there
is still time to make suggestions.

I urge all Kentuckians to join us in our efforts.