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Innovative Programs Take The Right Approach To The Rising Tide Of Meth Use

The headlines that wrap around the stories on Page 1A of Monday's
Mail Tribune speak strongly of innovative ways to help reduce
methamphetamine production, sale and use in Jackson County.

The headlines read: "New ways to deal with a community problem,"
"Federal court conviction means stiffer sentence" and "Drug court
coordinates fight against addiction."

The headlines sum up two major stories on meth by reporter Dani Dodge
- - the second installment in a two-day series on the county's drug
problem. Among facts disclosed were these:

In June 1999 Jackson County was designated a High Intensity Drug
Trafficking Area - one of 28 in the nation. The designation means
that in 2002 an additional $346,968 will be allotted to fight drug
trafficking in Jackson County.

The money goes to law enforcement and to pay the salary of a special
drug prosecutor whose presence kicked up the number of federal drug
prosecutions from 19 in 2000 to 36 in 2001.

One story describes the cognitive restructuring class started by the
county in 1998 for those serving jail sentences. The program is meant
to teach criminals and addicts ways other than getting high to deal
with stress, disappointment and frustration.

The stories also introduce the reader to a new court system:

"Jackson County Drug Court is the county's newest attempt to help
families and individuals successfully overcome drug addictions by
building relationships among drug offenders, judges and a team of
service providers that includes addiction therapists, probation
officers, prosecutors and child welfare workers," Dodge wrote.

The court opened in December with a $287,000 state grant. Three
judges handle the complex cases that include families along with the
people arrested. Participants sign up for drug court in exchange for
having their criminal cases dismissed, their probation reduced or
their children returned sooner from foster care.

We heartily endorse these innovative programs - the "get-tough"
attitude in the federal programs and a more people-oriented,
humanitarian approach to the drug court.

Meth has been a four-letter word around here long enough. These
programs will help erase this black mark on the county.