GROUP TO TARGET SUBSTANCE ABUSE IN COMMUNITIES

Alcohol, tobacco and drugs take a toll on the lives of Hardin County
residents every day, sometimes causing crime, domestic violence or high
public-health costs.

But a new local group established by the state to reduce consumption and
abuse of these drugs is about to begin its work.

A 30-member board created to serve Hardin, Grayson and Meade counties under
the Kentucky Agency for Substance Abuse Policy (KY-ASAP) will receive a
$175,000 grant next week.

The board is intended to serve as the coordinator for all the active
alcohol, drug and tobacco prevention programs in the communities, including
treatment programs.

"We have a lot of resources in our community,'' said Kelly Harl, a board
member who works at Communicare Regional Prevention Center in
Elizabethtown. "Our goal is promote better cooperation among the agencies.''

The board will kick off its work and accept its $175,000 from the state at
a breakfast celebration at 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 4 at Pritchard Community Center.

David Mawn, deputy director of KY-ASAP, said Wednesday that the Hardin,
Grayson and Meade board is one of 14 in the state. The ultimate goal is for
the entire state to be under one umbrella as a Commonwealth of Healty
Communities, he said.

The program was funded by the 2000 General Assembly with tobacco settlement
dollars, Mawn said.

Although KY-ASAP is state-promoted, Mawn said, "this is totally about being
community driven.'' The local board will have "community ownership'' to
better identify the needs for programs that address the key alcohol,
tobacco and drug-related issues in each county, he said.

Harl said the board has already identified problems in those counties with
alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and stimulants (crack cocaine,
methampethamine). The board's first order of business will be to hire a
board coordinator, she said.

Mawn said the Hardin, Grayson, Meade board has already submitted its
strategic plan to the state agency, which is reviewing it. He said the
three communities seem destined to succeed.

"Your board there has done a wonderful job in getting people involved,''
Mawn said.