ADDITIONAL RESOURCES NEEDED IN DRUG WAR

We doubt that many members of the Wheeling Rotary Club were surprised last week
when United States Magistrate Judge James E. Seibert told them illegal drugs
are readily available in this area.

Though Seibert provided details most of the Rotarians probably didn't have
previously, it is no secret that illegal drugs are a serious problem in the
Ohio Valley. As Seibert pointed out, "any drug anyone wants can be acquired
within an hour." Seibert did repeat something several law enforcement officials
have pointed out during recent years: The local drug problem doesn't appear to
be a home-grown one in the sense that many suppliers of illegal substances come
here from other, bigger cities. Higher prices can be obtained here and the
danger - presumably, from both other criminals and police - is lower.

Some local communities have "task forces" of law enforcement officers whose
primary task is cracking down on illegal drugs. But, as Seibert pointed out,
they don't have enough personnel to mount a comprehensive attack on the
problem.

Local residents have demonstrated they have no tolerance for illegal drugs,
most recently through the Hopeful City's "Holy Ground" campaign. It may be time
to match their effort by beefing up drug "task force" programs by law
enforcement agencies at both the local and federal levels.