POLICE CAN'T SOLVE DRUG PROBLEM ALONE

First the good news: Police are continuing their crackdown on illegal
drugs. Police conducted more raids last week, seized drugs and laid
charges.

The charges, of course, still have to go before the court and the
persons charged may or may not be found guilty.

Now the bad news: Even if those charged are found guilty and sentenced
to prison, there will be new dealers taking up the trade.

And why? Because of greed or desperation.

Greed -- they want money and they don't care where it comes from as
long as it makes it into their pockets.

Desperation -- they need the money to fund their own addiction.

There's money to be made from selling drugs, but at a very great cost.
Families, friendships and lives are being destroyed by those who deal
in drugs.

Last year a clergyman asked his congregation to pray for drug dealers.
Pray that they will come to realize the harm they are causing and no
longer wish to be part of that business; that lifestyle.

If prayer is the answer, then bring them on.

If stiffer penalties are the answer, bring them on.

It's too easy for a drug dealer to sit among the mourners when
someone's life is cut all too short because of drug addiction and then
casually go about his business of supplying his regular customers and
welcoming new ones.

It's too easy for a drug dealer to get into business. They don't need
a licence. They don't pay taxes. They can set their own hours and
their customers will keep coming back even if they provide poor
service or forget to say thank you.

Drug abuse gets a bad rap. It gets blamed for break-ins and many other
social problems when, in reality, it's the people who sell the drugs
that are the cause of the problems. If the dealers were all rounded
up, then there would be no new addicts, and those already addicted
would be seeking help in breaking free.

But a drug-free world would be a perfect world.

The best we can ask for is a society that supports its police forces
by providing them with timely information that will help round up the
dealers.

.And hope and pray that today's youth can grow up without being
invited to try drugs.