Pubdate: Fri, 20 Sep 2002
Source: Virginian-Pilot (VA)
Copyright: 2002, The Virginian-Pilot
Contact:  http://www.pilotonline.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/483
Author: Amy Jeter, The Virginian-Pilot

IN PORTSMOUTH, ANTI-DRUG IDEAS REVIEWED

PORTSMOUTH -- Community leaders at the city's July drug summit offered a 
wish list of solutions for preventing drug crime but expressed doubts that 
the programs could be put in place. On Thursday, federal officials 
presented 136 ideas from the summit, which was designed to help address the 
city's struggle with drugs and related violent crime.

The recommendations focused on helping people find healthy alternatives to 
drugs, strengthening families and encouraging individuals to improve their 
lives.

Suggestions included providing vocational training to reduce the high 
school dropout rate, developing after-school and summer activities and 
educating teen mothers about parenting.

Enforcement ideas, such as beefing up citizens' roles in clearing drug 
crime from neighborhoods, were less popular among people who attended the 
summit.

Participants who evaluated the recommendations reported that they believed 
few of the ideas were highly feasible. Out of the 136 recommendations, only 
seven were regarded as most likely to happen.

Some of the top ideas, however, already exist, including a list of city 
recreational facilities and a children's library reading program.

"You guys are doing some great things," said Michael Wood of the National 
Crime Prevention Council, which co-sponsored the summit. "But guess what? 
You've got to get that message out."

The summit was part of a new Drug Enforcement Administration program that 
couples law enforcement with a community treatment and prevention plan. 
Portsmouth was one of three cities nationwide chosen for the program.

The next step will be for a community committee to put together a plan, 
said Anne Lyons, who heads the group.

"If we have the plan together and work it, we're going to see a difference 
in Portsmouth in the next year," Lyons said. "We are not going to make the 
mistake of trying to do everything and getting nothing done."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom