Pubdate: Thu, 10 Jul 2003 Source: North County Times (CA) Contact: 2003 North County Times Website: http://www.nctimes.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1080 Author: Ken Ma, Staff Writer Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/prop36.htm (Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act) DA'S DRUG DIVISION DEBUTS SAN DIEGO -- Flanked by law enforcement officials from across the region, District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis on Wednesday announced the creation of a narcotics division that will specialize in prosecuting drug traffickers and work with police to curb illegal drug use. The division, formed through a reorganization of existing staff and resources, is also being established to work with federal authorities who identified San Diego County as one of 25 metro areas in the nation in which 40 percent to 80 percent of America's drug trade occurs, Dumanis said. "Drugs destroy lives," she said during an afternoon news conference at the Hall of Justice in downtown San Diego. "We want to put more traffickers in prison for a longer period of time." Deputy District Attorney Damon C. Mosler will head 18 of his fellow prosecutors in the new division to work with 300 federal, state and local police officials in combating drug supply and demand throughout the county, Dumanis said. The drug prosecutors will be based throughout the county, including the Vista Court Complex. The district attorney said the creation of the new division did not cost any taxpayer dollars because existing resources were used. The division's annual operating budget, however, has yet to be worked out, she said. Dumanis gained support for the plan from John Walters, the director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. The federal drug czar, who attended the news conference, said the San Diego metropolitan area is one of 25 metro areas targeted by a national campaign to reduce drug use. "The campaign is only as good as the local people who deploy our initiative," Walters said. Local prosecutors and federal authorities released figures Wednesday that they say support the need for the new narcotics division. In 2001, the most recent numbers available, 3,555 people in the San Diego region were arrested for alleged driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, an increase from 3,117 arrests in 2000, according to national drug statistics presented at the news conference. Also in 2001, 22.5 percent of San Diego area youths were using marijuana, a percentage slightly lower than the national youth usage rate of 23.9 percent, the statistics showed. That same year, 62 percent of all adult males and 61 percent of all adult females arrested in the county tested positive for at least one illegal substance, according to national statistics. Drug-induced deaths countywide increased from 205 in 1995 to 279 in 1998, according to the latest drug statistics. Methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine pose the biggest threats to the region, statistics show. Marijuana also poses a significant threat. The district attorney's drug prosecutors will handle cases that include buying or selling illegal drugs; buying and selling drugs used in rape cases and steroids; gang members who commit narcotics offenses; and secret labs. The prosecutors will also oversee the Drug Endangered Children Program, which seeks to protect children living with caregivers who use or sell drugs; provide training to law enforcement officers on new issues, case preparation and informant issues; and provide advice and oversight on Proposition 215, which allows the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. They will also work with courts and county probation officers to implement the Drug Court and Proposition 36, which sends drug offenders to treatment facilities for the first two offenses instead of prison. There are 53 treatment providers and six drug courts in San Diego County. In addition, the prosecutors will work with county and community officials to educate users and potential users, as well as developing ideas to curb demand. Mosler, the unit's chief, said a majority of his prosecutors have between five and 10 years of experience prosecuting narcotics cases. Some of those cases have included large marijuana, methamphetamine, heroin and Ecstasy seizures. - --- MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk