DRUGS CALLED 'DARK CLOUD'

ASHEBORO - In the week before the second Randolph Drug Summit, Randolph
County law enforcement officers seized a record 7.5 kilos of cocaine and
701 pounds of marijuana with a combined street value of over $3 million.

"It is a wonderful thing to make these arrests and get these drugs off the
streets, but it also gives credibility to the tremendous influx of drugs
into Randolph County," Asheboro Police Chief Gary Mason said at the meeting
at Randolph Community College on Wednesday night.

The second county-wide drug summit was sponsored by the Randolph Rotary Club.

Mason said the escalating amounts of illegal drugs also give credibility to
a warning from a Federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent in
December 1999 that Asheboro was a central target area for drug distribution
in the United States.

Mason said increased drug activity every year has "formed a dark cloud"
over Asheboro, a city that has always taken pride in its quality of life.

Randolph County Sheriff Litchard Hurley said he had also been told that
Asheboro, Siler City and Burlington were the hubs from Mexico to illegal
drug distribution in the eastern United States.

Liberty Police Chief Jerry R. Brown, a former ALE agent, said the military
no longer has the manpower to intercept drug shipments into the U.S.

"That sends a signal to drug lords that our borders are open. Drug lords
rule provinces in Mexico and if we think that they can't make our
communities places of fear, we are in a vacuum," Brown said.

The speakers - Mason, Hurley, Brown, Randleman Police Chief Richard
Weinblatt, Randleman Mayor Bruce Moore, Kenn Clark, president of Safety
Network Inc., and substance abuse counselor Dr. Harold Lilly - said the
only solution is total community resolve and determination by every citizen
that illegal drug activity will not be tolerated.

Asheboro Councilwoman Linda Carter delivered a message from Mayor David
Jarrell, who challenged young people to not use nor condone the use of drugs.

Jarrell also noted the cost to the city and law enforcement, which he
estimated at $1.3-$1.5 million a year in loss of property and additional
resources to equip the police department for the challenges they face.

The main costs, Jarrell said, are to individuals and families whose lives
are affected by addiction and violence.

Mayor Moore addressed alcohol abuse and the cost, not only to the
taxpayers, but in heartbreak and devastation to individuals and families.
Randleman police have responded to 300 alcohol related calls this year. No
money in the world can replace a life, Moore said.

Dr. Harold Lilly said prevention is the key. "Treatment is the ultimate
failure of prevention," he said. The failure of prevention means that every
segment of society, including families, churches, communities and law
enforcement, are not doing their jobs and no one segment can do it alone.

People on drugs lose the ability to motivate themselves to better
themselves and become a liability to society, Lilly said.

Sheriff Hurley said the battles won are getting the drugs off the streets
and the dealers in jail. The battles lost are drug related homicides,
domestic violence, drive-by shootings, break-ins and larcenies.

In addition to the marijuana and cocaine, Hurley said six Methamphetamine
labs have been found in Randolph County.

"Officers risk their lives every day in the fight against drugs. We have
got to meet this problem head-on," Hurley said. "All law enforcement in
Randolph County cooperates and works together on drugs. We need a special
comprehensive drug enforcement unit from this part of the state that
includes the other counties in the hub."

Hurley, speaking directly to N.C. Sen. Jerry Tillman and state Rep. Arlie
Culp, said the state needs stiffer penalties for illegal drug crimes.

"North Carolina has a reputation for being soft on drug dealers and drug
dealers are smart people. Go back to Raleigh and help us out."

All the officers had stories of lives lost, families destroyed and children
physically abused and emotionally scarred.

"If we love our community, we must work together," Mason said.

Weinblatt said experience has shown him that police need to reach out to
the community and become partners with social agencies. People should not
be afraid to approach officers, and the community needs to take
responsibility for what is happening in their neighborhoods.

Clark, whose company does drug tests for workplaces, told of two successful
careers ruined by casual drug use.

Employers and insurance companies strongly promote drug free workplaces
because an active program creates a safer workplace, lowers insurance costs
and increases production, Clark said.

"The financial impact of drug abuse on business is staggering; the human
costs are tragic," Clark said.

Hal Powell, who presided at the summit, said he was pleased with the crowd
of approximately 75 people, considering the cold rain and wind, the
Wednesday night church services and Christmas shopping.

Some of those present were young people who will use the information as
they research and write speeches for the Rotary International speech
competition to be held in January.