Pubdate: Fri, 10 Dec 2004 Source: Bluefield Daily Telegraph (WV) Copyright: 2004 Bluefield Daily Telegraph Contact: http://www.bdtonline.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1483 Author: Barbara Hawkins, State Editor DARE ESSENTIAL IN ALL SCHOOLS - CYCLE OF ABUSE - DUNMYER OPENS NEW BUSINESS The same day the Daily Telegraph featured an editorial on the high cost of crime - paying for housing of prisoners in West Virginia - there was a letter to the editor from Scott Burton of Princeton about the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program. And, just the day before, state officials released a report saying Driving Under the Influence and domestic violence cases account for the most incarcerations in the Mountain State. Somehow, all that information seems to tie together. Burton said a national report indicates the number of admissions to substance abuse programs for marijuana abuse has increased 350 percent from 1992 to 2002. Apparently marijuana is the most commonly used drug with approximately 15 million users, cocaine follows with 2 million users and hallucinogens are next with 1 million. He said the survey also shows that about 6 million people have used prescription drugs for non-medical purposes. There was no report on the legalized use of methadone, but I think it would be interesting to know how many people in the United States are receiving the substance through legal clinics. While supporters of the program say it is the best way to bring people down from drugs, others protest it is simply a legal, cheaper way to get a buzz or even be "high." Burton challenges us in his letter to find out if local schools have a DARE program or an equivalent and how well they are funded. Increased crime levels and high use of drugs appear to go hand in hand. Many criminal cases in Circuit Court are drug or alcohol use related crimes. A few years ago, there was a major push for DARE programs in all schools. Somehow, funding was reduced and many police departments and schools were forced to drop the programs. They are much-needed. Reducing the number of driving under the influence cases, which result in the subject being incarcerated, would be beneficial to the defendant and the taxpayer. We need to give more attention to prevention programs. It would make a difference in many lives if they are reached in their early years and halted on a path of alcohol or drug use. And, we could use our tax dollars for other services instead of housing prisoners. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ As for domestic violence, Band-Aids are in use but a solution to the problem is still being sought by bright minds around the world. Because statistics prove that family abuse is a cycle - a child sees his father hit his mother and thinks that's the way family life is so he abuses his wife or girlfriend when he grows us. That cycle must be broken before any headway can be made. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Officials at the Princeton-Mercer County Chamber of Commerce are thrilled with their new home - the historic McNutt House located at the corner of N. Walker Street and Honaker Avenue. A local bank has donated furniture for two offices and other items are being contributed. There may be other pieces of furniture or items they need. Anyone wishing to give the chamber a Christmas present might want to check with Robert Farley or Keith Circle at the chamber office, at 487-1502. They are attempting to keep the historic theme in one or more of the rooms, also. Farley and Circle hope to have it completed by January when an open house is planned. There are lots of rumors that the State Police will move into the former chamber office on Oakvale Road, which is a short distance away from the current location. A new shopping complex apparently moving forward for the same section is expected to take the current State Police office. ----------------------------------------------------- Dunmyer Health Care Group, owned and operated by Dan Dunmyer, is open and flourishing in Princeton. One of the newest members of the Princeton-Mercer County Chamber of Commerce (which Dunmyer currently heads as president for 2004), the consulting firm project causes speculation among many of the Dunmyer family's friends that they will continue to make Princeton their home. Apparently the new firm is keeping Dunmyer busy. He is well respected and admired in the health care industry, so success is no surprise.