TASK FORCE CALLS DRUG EDUCATION PROGRAM A SUCCESS

The head of the Southeast Mississippi Drug Task Force hopes, in time, that
his new drug education program will prevent crimes from ever happening.

Commander Roger Williams said Lt. Van Tuggle designed the program so that
anyone can understand drugs and the serious harm they cause.

"We felt something lacking in this area," Williams said. "There was a need
for it but nobody really pushed it in this area. We felt like it was an
important thing to us."

Williams also said the program is unique because the information is
educational enough for adults but it isn't too complicated for children.

The task force started the new educational program in February. So far,
Tuggle has used 14 hours to speak to 811 people.

Williams said the funding for materials came from seized drug money. He
also said they used the money to buy a laptop computer, a projector and a
screen to use at events.

"Most of us have kids," Williams said. "It's scary to us to how easily
drugs can be obtained. That's one of the reasons we work as hard as we do."

Williams also said the drug education program is free to organizations or
groups in Jones, Jasper, Smith, and Covington Counties. He said Tuggle can
use the program in churches, clubs, schools and any other place where
people are curious about the drug problem in the area.

For more information, contact the Southeast Mississippi Drug Task Force at
426-6164 or toll free at 877-NO-2-DOPE.