GETTING THE BAD GUYS OUT OF DODGE

Sneads Ferry has a problem with illegal drugs and it is impacting the
residents, businesses and tourism industry.

Some Sneads Ferry residents describe their community as that of a frontier
town, with drugs and drug dealers rampant. Responding to this problem, a
group of residents has taken action by creating the Sneads Ferry Citizens
in Action group (SFCIA).

Modeling themselves after the group MADD, Mothers Against Drunk Drivers,
this local group will monitor court cases of those arrested for drug
offenses in Sneads Ferry and see those cases through to their conclusion,
reporting on the outcome to their community.

This action group will also make its presence known at county commissioners
meetings and school board meetings. SFCIA now has a toll-free phone number
in place for people to call if they would like to help or to report drug
activity in the area.

SFCIA members believe that by bringing illegal drug activity to light,
dealers and users will not be able to operate in relative anonymity. This
may cause some to shy away from using drugs out of shame, and may make some
dealers think twice about operating in a town where the citizens keep an
eye out and report drug dealers to law enforcement officials.

This effort may not eradicate illegal drug activity in the Sneads Ferry
community but it can make it harder for drug dealers and users.

SFCIA is to be commended for what they are doing. Onslow County Sheriff Ed
Brown says he wishes that citizens in every Onslow County community would
start such a group.

Sneads Ferry is not the only community with a drug problem. Illegal drugs
have permeated every community.

Drug use is found in the schools, both middle and high schools, in clubs
and on the streets. It also hides behind closed doors. Neither age nor
socioeconomic status precludes one from feeling the affects of drug abuse.

Groups such as SFCIA are important. Rather than ignoring the problem, the
members of SFCIA are standing up for the law abiding citizens of their
community and telling the drug users to get out of Dodge (Sneads Ferry).