THIRD PHASE OF POLICE DRUG OFFENSIVE BEGINS WITH TOWN MEETING

The third phase of the Picayune Police Department drug offensive began
Thursday night with a panel of representatives from area organizations
whose goal is to help those with drug abuse problems and their families.

About 50 people, including law enforcement and community leaders,
turned out at the Senior Center in Picayune for the two-hour town meeting.

Picayune School District behavioral specialist and meeting coordinator
Derek Turnage said the meeting was the first of several aimed at
helping those with drug abuse problems before they evolve into
criminal problems.

"This is a war we cannot afford to lose," he said.

The panel was comprised of representatives from 12 area organizations
who gave brief overviews of what services they provide and how they
can be contacted.

Dr. Sheila Wallace, program director of Pearl River Information and
Drug Education, Inc., said her organization offers counseling and
programs, such as Life Skills, for those with drug problems.

"We're here for the community," she said.

Another service sponsored by First United Pentecostal Church in
Picayune is Alcohol Chemical Treatment Services.

Wayne Wilson said the free service, which is taught in all 50 states
and 12 countries, uses a holistic approach and a structured
environment to get help to those with drug problems.

Wilson said local judges have used the program for 10 years with
outstanding success.

"When someone wants to get clean, when someone wants to get help,
we're here to help," Wilson said.

Ruth Fleming said the faith-based organization Helping Other People
Endure is geared toward drug abusers. The group meets the third
Thursday of each month. Fleming called drug addiction "an illness"
that has claimed too many lives of young people.

She said denial of a drug abuse problem is not only devastating, but
also deadly.

"We have already lost a number of our young people," she said.

Lisa Crain with Gulf Coast Mental Health Center in Gulfport said her
organization offers a host of programs, including an intensive outcare
program and multiple DUI program.

The organization, which serves Harrison, Pearl River, Hancock and
Stone counties, said drug and alcohol abuse is "a disease of the family."

Pearl River County chancery clerk David Earl Johnson said drug
problems parallel mental illness and believes legislation needs to be
passed to give addicts the same rights as the mentally ill.

Other organizations represented at the meeting were Oxford House, Pine
Grove Recovery, Life Resource Center, Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics
Anonymous and Al-Anon.

Shawn Kosderka, a former drug addict, gave testimony on how his life
changed since he turned away from drugs.

"I was too wrapped up in the ways of the world," he said. "I put a lot
of people through a lot of stuff."

Kosderka said recovering from drug addiction is not an easy process
and treatment programs help.

"It's not just simply putting down the drugs, it's not that easy," he
said. "You can't do it on your own. God took my addiction. He sent
people to help me."

The first phase of the three-phase drug offensive began last November
with the placement of police officers, or Student Resource Officers,
in the school system and the graduation of 322 sixth grade students
from the Drug Awareness Resistance Education program. The second phase
began in December and involved apprehension of drug dealers and abusers.

Luke said the drug problem affects everyone, not just addicts.

"It's a fight and we're on the front lines," Luke said. "This is not a
police or law enforcement problem. It's a community problem."

Pearl River County Sheriff Joe Stuart said he is committed to not only
putting drug offenders in jail, but also getting them the help they
need.

Mayor Greg Mitchell said the police department and its efforts are
being recognized throughout the state.

"We have a police department in the City of Picayune that's second to
none in the state of Mississippi," he said.

Turnage said more meetings will be held and shaped through sign-in
sheets where people write down their concerns and interests.