Pubdate: Sun, 07 Apr 2002 Source: Delta Democrat Times (MS) Copyright: 2002 Delta Democrat Times Contact: http://www.ddtonline.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2123 Author: Donald V. Adderton Note: The author is editor of the Delta Democrat Times RISING TO THE CHALLENGE OF DRUGS, GANGS TAKES GUTS A pained expression crossed W. Allen Pepper Jr.'s face when he began to talk about how illegal drugs have dashed young lives and ripped apart families. As a U.S. District Court judge, the Bolivar County native has witnessed firsthand from the bench what the substance abuse carnage is doing to Mississippi and the nation. He is disturbed by the trend that is weaving its evil way into the human community fabric - wrapping its vile tentacles around our impressionable young people. "We should do whatever it takes to win this war, because there is no alternative," Pepper said. "The enemy is now at the gates, and we must do something." But in America, there always seems to be a constant, forever presenting an oasis of hope, and believability. For a long time now, the American scouting movement has provided our adolescents with a wholesome avenue for character-building and leadership. It was those childhood scouting experiences that prompted Pepper to make a rare public speech, in fact, the first one since being appointed to the federal bench in 1999 by President Bill Clinton. "It takes courage and conviction to be a scout," Pepper said before the annual fund-raiser dinner of the Washington District of the Boys Scouts of America. Many of you who are reading this column probably, at one time or another, were involved with scouting, as a youngster or adult volunteer. I know I have taken the building blocks of scouting with me into adulthood. Nonetheless, our young people continue to be romanced by the allure of street life and illegal drugs. A study released last year by the Partnership for a Drug Free Society indicated 11.3 million teenagers admitted using illegal drugs. And marijuana remains the drug of choice among teenagers. And the drug abuse problem taking place in Mississippi Delta communities only serves to mirror a more vexing social problem. It's an issue that is not lost on Pepper, who calls illegal drugs a silent, but deadly force impacting our nation. Pepper talked about attending a concert last year in Memphis, and was aghast when his son told him several stylishly dressed young adults sitting a couple of rows ahead where using the so-called "club drug" Exstacy. "It was right there in the open, and no one knew," he said. "They just kept drinking bottled water and passing around Altoids." What appeared to be high-priced breath mints were actually Exstacy tabs that they carried in the Altoids tins. "I know that I am not the only naive one," Pepper continued, "because a former U.S. attorney was sitting behind us, and he was just as shocked as I was." You see, the drug causes the body temperature to increase, which requires a steady water supply. Although there has been a concerted government response - even at one time creating a so-called drug czar - to the illegal drug invasion with varying degrees success, Pepper, nevertheless, challenged the audience to become more involved in parenting and mentoring children and teenagers. "Our young people are our tomorrow, and they belong to us for better or worse," Pepper said. "Drugs and gangs exist in our communities today, because the public has not been outraged." Just where is the moral indignation? How long will you allow outside impurities to continue to contaminate our youth? Unless we stand as a collective, illegal substances will remain a social scourge, and the blame will rest on our shoulders. Donald V. Adderton is editor of the Delta Democrat Times - --- MAP posted-by: Alex