VOTERS SHOULD RENEW TAX TO FIGHT DRUGS

Renew anti-drug tax in Jackson County

Jackson County's anti-drug tax has closed drug houses, effectively treated
addicts and helped prevent young people from getting hooked.

Those are good, solid reasons for county voters next Tuesday to renew the
Community-Backed Anti-Drug Tax (COMBAT) for seven more years. It is
scheduled to expire next March.

Since voters first approved the quarter-cent tax in 1989, it has helped
Jackson County meet the complex challenges created by illegal drugs. County
officials have markedly improved how they spend revenue from the tax, which
now totals $19.8 million a year.

Despite its many benefits, the tax has attracted critics in two
organizations. Yet it's difficult to imagine how the county could handle
illegal drugs and their harmful effects if COMBAT died.

Take law enforcement. Some critics imply that the continued existence of
drug houses proves the anti-drug tax does not work.

That's an unrealistic view of how effective the tax has been. After all,
more than 7,200 drug houses have been shut down since the tax began.

Killing the tax leave the county with far fewer resources to deal with drug
houses in the future. The houses would stay open longer. Their occupants
would have less fear of being shut down. The people who live near the houses
would become discouraged. Neighborhoods would be imperiled.

Tax opponents claim the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program (DARE) has
failed to keep children off drugs. Yet parent and student surveys show the
county's prevention programs have helped many students resist peer pressure
to use illegal drugs. It would be irresponsible to eliminate prevention
programs that inform thousands of young people about these drugs and their
hazards.

Regarding treatment -- which critics say has been sporadic and ineffective
- -- COMBAT's many programs get nonviolent offenders off drugs so they can go
to school, get jobs and raise families. About 90 percent of offenders who
get treatment and completed Drug Court requirements have not been rearrested
in the following five years.

The alternative, which is simply throwing people in jail, would be costly
and less effective in preventing further drug use.

The treatment programs are one of COMBAT's success stories. They deserve
more attention and money from the tax, which voters should extend next
Tuesday.