EDUCATION IS KEY TO WAR ON DRUGS

When it comes to drugs, Utah could almost change its name to the state of
Denial.

Despite the efforts to convince the world -- and each other -- that Utah is
a Norman Rockwell picture of Americana, we have a drug problem.

The state Division of Substance Abuse's annual report shows that 100,000
Utahns -- a fifth of them minors -- are addicted to drugs or alcohol.

The report also showed that methamphetamine use is increasing in the state,
due to the fact that it is cheap and easy to make. "Club drugs" like
ecstasy are also on the rise.

Other drugs creating problems in Utah are marijuana, cocaine and heroin, as
well as alcohol.

Those statistics are disturbing. There should be a wake-up call for all of
us to do something about this problem.

The natural gut reaction is to lock 'em up and throw away the key. Well,
we've been doing that and it obviously is not working.

That is not to say we should give up and legalize drugs. That doesn't solve
the problem either.

Instead, we need to deal with the issue on numerous fronts.

First, we need to get information to know what we are up against. You can't
win any wars without intelligence about the enemy.

The state's efforts at assessing drug use among teens and children is
hampered by laws requiring parental consent for each survey taken. While
the law has good intentions, it hamstrings the drug prevention effort
because children sometimes don't return the permission slips.

This keeps surveyors from getting enough students to form statistically
valid samples, and thus we don't get an accurate picture.

The Legislature has attempted to correct this problem by requiring the
permission forms be sent home through the mail rather than in a child's
backpack, and putting the burden on parents to affirmatively state they do
not want their child participating to keep them out of the survey.

Unfortunately, this bill keeps getting shot down by ultraconservatives who
claim it treads on parental rights or that merely asking a child about
drugs will drive him into the arms of a drug dealer.

That argument ignores the fact that children already learn about drugs
through the DARE program, and that hasn't seemed to turn them into junkies.

It's too late for this session, but lawmakers need to find a way to change
the law to make it easier to get the information that will help deal with
the problem.

The State Office of Education also needs to examine programs such as DARE
and adjust it to give children the information they need to stay away from
drugs. It is not enough to just say no. Students need to know why drugs are
bad, what the risks are of using drugs and the benefits of a drug-free life.

A thorough education can help reduce the demand for drugs.

But what do we do about those who use drugs anyway?

Rehabilitation needs to be as much a part of the judicial process as
punishment. Just locking up someone with a drug habit will not cure their
addiction. They'll just come out looking for drugs again.

Utah is already taking steps toward this end with the drug court program.
In drug courts, offenders are put into rehabilitation programs to break
their addiction. Participants are tested and warned that if they don't stay
clean they'll have to do serious jail time.
Drug courts in other states have reduced recidivism, and Utah's efforts are
bearing fruit as well. It is a program that needs to be expanded.

Finally, we as a community need to provide alternatives to drugs.
Recreation programs, youth centers and public dances provide safe havens
and alternatives to raves or drinking parties in the canyons.

We've come together in the war on terrorism. Now we must do the same in the
war on drugs.