GOVERNOR LAUDS FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS

LUMBERTON - Gov. Mike Easley praised Robeson County Thursday for its
efforts to battle illegal drugs.

Easley was the speaker for Palmer Prevention's Red Ribbon luncheon, which
kicked off Drug Awareness Week. Palmer Prevention is a nonprofit drug and
alcohol abuse counseling agency.

About 500 people attended the sixth annual event at the Southeastern North
Carolina Agricultural Center and Farmer's Market.

The governor credited a "spirit of cohesiveness" among county residents for
the success of Palmer Prevention and local police in the fight against drugs.

"It's easy to sit around and talk, but you're doing something about it
here," Easley said. "Attacking substance abuse is not a one-size-fits-all
problem. You have to find what works best for your county."

Tom Norton is executive director of Palmer Prevention. He said he worked
closely with Easley 20 years ago. Norton was head of a drug counseling
center in Brunswick County while Easley was starting out as district
attorney there.

"We were battling the drug dealers," Norton said. "We sent a lot of them to
jail and got help for those who needed it."

Easley said it is important to arrest drug dealers, but it is also crucial
to get treatment for addicts.

Norton said he is hoping for more involvement from the community in
fighting illegal drugs.

"We need to rise up and do something about it," he said. "There are a lot
more good people in this county than bad."