COUNTY NEEDS SINGLE SOURCE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS

Rowan County's best hope against drugs is a proposed coalition, says
Mike Jones, who has campaigned for awareness about drugs ever since
his son died of a heroin overdose.

"If the statistic is true that 80 percent of crime is related to
substance abuse, then why is there not one single organization or
person dedicated to coordinating all the activities and resources this
county has?" he asks.

After meeting for more than a year, the Rowan County Substance Abuse
Prevention Committee has proposed forming a coalition to do the following:

* Increase public awareness of substance abuse resources.

* Help parents talk to their kids about drugs.

* Advocate for more drug abuse treatment and prevention
services.

* Promote education and training programs for public officials and
professionals.

In its proposal to the United Way, the committee has recommended
hiring someone to lead the coalition, says Jones, a committee member.

"Hopefully, we're getting funded by the United Way for a kind of 'drug
czar' for the county," he says. "That would be one of best things this
county could do."

United Way Executive Director Bob Lippard said the United Way board
has endorsed the idea of a anti-drug coalition of community groups but
has made no decision on how it would operate and whether to hire a
coordinator.

Lippard said the United Way wants "to continue the good work of this
committee." The coalition would include any agency touching on drug
abuse - from criminal prosecution to rehabilitation - as well as
neighborhoods and "grassroots efforts by citizens of the community,"
he said.

A drug czar would help, Jones says, but in the long run, parents
themselves have the best chance to influence their children's choices.

"Statistics show, if you just talk to them and express your concerns
..." he says. "Read the paper and pick out someone who's gotten in
trouble from substance abuse and talk to them about it."

If they start abusing drugs, get help and don't unintentionally
support their habit, Jones says. Don't cover for them when they miss
work. Don't clean up after them, fix their meals or do their laundry.
Don't bail them out of jail.

Tell them how much they hurt you.

"Keep hammering away at them," he says. "Kids are going to act like
they don't hear you, but they do."

Police, schools and churches can't take the place of a watchful,
concerned and educated parent, Jones says.

"We've got a tough fight for a long time," Jones says, "until ...
until I don't know when."