DRUG PROBLEM ADDRESSED

The issue of how to deal with the drug problem plaguing Covington County,
and how to help drug users themselves was raised at a City of Andalusia town
hall meeting held Tuesday evening following the regular council session. All
of the city department heads attended the meeting.

Residents Chrisan and Dwayne Adkison, who said they have personally dealt
with the problem of drugs in the past, brought the issue before Andalusia
Mayor Earl Johnson and the city council.

Mrs. Adkison said she often read in the paper about who had been arrested
for various drug-related charges, but said she never hears anything about
what is being done for the people who are apparently battling addictions and
other drug problems.

"The jails don't seem to work because (convicted felons) are getting drugs
in jail, so they're not really getting off the drugs, and I think the whole
community needs to get together and think of a way to help the people with
the drug problem. I'm seeing where all this money is being spent (by the
city) on roads but it's not really helping the people here," said Adkison.

Johnson told Adkison that one of the main subjects discussed in previous
town hall meetings was drug rehabilitation.

"Certainly (drugs) is a problem, not only in our community but throughout
our nation and a lot of people a lot smarter than I am have tried to figure
out how to solve that problem, but the bottom line is we should offer some
kind of rehabilitation service or resources for people who need those
things," said Johnson. "I am not sure that the City of Andalusia can fund.
by ourselves, a program like that, but maybe if we teamed with the county,
the City of Opp and other municipalities maybe in a regional way, we could
maybe ensure that rehabilitation services are available and try to help
people in any way we can."

Mr. Adkison said he has read in a periodical that Covington County has been
referred to as the "methamphetamine capitol of the United States," but
Johnson said this is simply because of an aggressive drug task force
ensuring arrests and convictions.

"We have a drug task force that is out busting meth labs that are not being
busted in other areas because they don't have the law enforcement capability
to do it," said Johnson. "(The Covington County 22nd Judicial Drug Task
Force) is something (Andalusia Police Chief Wilbur Williams, Jr.) is really
involved in and is something we support and help finance. We try to put
those (various drug labs) out of business before they have the opportunity
to get these drugs out on the streets."

Mrs. Adkison replied that the problem starts with the users themselves, and
said many of the drug users are not making money themselves as they are
largely producing the drugs for their own use and not selling them.

She said there is also the problem of job discrimination for those arrested
for producing these drugs, as employers and even members of society tend to
back off from persons who attain the reputation of "drugheads."

Johnson said he wished the city could do more to help those who have battled
or are battling drugs, but said it is only feasible economically for the
city to do so much.

"We as a city have limited resources to deal with these issues, and if you
have an idea of something we can do, that is within our resources, we are
certainly willing to listen and try it out," said Johnson. "What you are
talking about is a huge problem across the nation, and it's been attacked by
many different directions and we haven't solved it yet. One of the things we
do is we support our South Central Alabama Mental Health Board."

Mrs. Adkison suggested instead of sending the drug offenders to jail, it
might be a better option to send them straight to a mandatory rehabilitation
program, and when they have completed this program, perhaps have a possible
job lined up for them to give them a chance to succeed in a work
environment.

Johnson replied by saying when the City of Andalusia makes an arrest, it is
usually the county's drug task force, and said the city is not enforcing its
own ordinances but is attempting to enforce state laws.

"We have a very limited capability or authority relating to the prosecution
of criminals other than saying we've arrested them," said Johnson. "Our law
enforcement ends there. We may have a moral or social responsibility to go
beyond that, and I think that is what you're talking about. That is
something we can look at and try to address. We are looking at a possible
drug court, but will take some state legislation, (but the court is being
attempted) in Florida and there has been mixed success with it. The drug
court sentences you to rehab facilities and you have to stay clean, and if
so, after a certain period of time the charges are dismissed. Unfortunately
the money to (try a drug court) in Alabama has not been appropriated,
because (the money) is not there. That is a legislative priority in
Montgomery."

Johnson suggested to Adkison that she might want to discuss the issue with
Attorney General Bill Pryor or members of the state legislature.

"The only way to accomplish the things that you're talking about is to have
a lot of money to put out there, and I can assure you, the City of Andalusia
does not have those resources," said Johnson to Adkison. "I don't think the
State of Alabama has the resources at this time unless it shifts priorities
from one area to another. That certainly is a program that needs to be
addressed."

Williams added that the problem of drugs, especially with drugs such as
methamphetamine, continues to be a sobering one.

"The best statistics show that less than 20 percent of methampetamine
addicts ever go through a successful rehabilitation program, and the best
statistic that they can come up with is that the national average at this
time is less than two percent," said Williams. "People just don't understand
what a terrible situation this is. We see what (the problem) is doing to the
current generation, but what is it doing to the children in the homes where
these meth labs are, with the chemicals that are being used. We are
combating it and doing everything we can do, and there has been success. I
would disagree with (Mrs. Adkison) to some extent. We can't address just one
issue and we can't say we should pump all (the money) on rehabilitation. A
two-percent (rehabilitation) success rate is not too good. (The drug
problem) is one of those things we have to address at every level."

Williams said there has to be an aggressive, proactive enforcement policy,
there has to be better education in the schools about the dangers of drugs,
and the fight against drugs also takes good, modern equipment.