Pubdate: Wed, 31 Mar 2004 Source: Daily News (KY) Copyright: 2004 News Publishing LLC Contact: http://www.bgdailynews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1218 Author: Hayli Fellwock STATE SEEKS TO CURB RISE IN DRUG ABUSE Pence Forms Panel To Host Forums On Treatment, Enforcement, Prevention In Kentucky, there were 300 meth labs seized in 2002 - up from 147 the year before - and more than 378,000 marijuana plants were eradicated in 2002, according to the Office of National Drug Control Policy. "The substance abuse problem in our commonwealth affects all of us, and it isn't going away," Gov. Ernie Fletcher said in a written statement. "Being tough on these drug crimes isn't enough. We must move beyond that to being effective." Local citizens may express their concerns on the matter to three panels at the Drug-Control Policy Assessment Summit on Thursday at the Sloan Convention Center from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The three panels - dealing with the issues of drug treatment, enforcement and prevention education - consist of state, local and federal representatives appointed by Lt. Gov. Stephen Pence. There are 23 members on the enforcement panel, which is co-chaired by Kentucky Attorney General Greg Stumbo and Cleve Gambill, deputy secretary of the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet. There are 16 members on the treatment panel, chaired by Karyn Hascal, acting director of the Division of Substance Abuse, Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation. There are 17 members on the prevention-education panel, chaired by Tim Eaton, superintendent of Pulaski County Schools. The 20-week initiative to visit 16 cities throughout Kentucky is a precursor to the establishment of the state's first statewide drug-control policy. According to the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, recommendations to Fletcher by the appointed panel members, based on what they hear from Kentuckians during the summits, will play a key role in the establishment of the new drug-control policy. "We have assembled a stellar group of people for this assessment," Pence said in a written statement. "They are each knowledgeable in their field and are going to work to provide us with the information we need to do something about the drug problem in our commonwealth." The assessment is the first in Kentucky to bring together officials in every area of drug abuse, and to examine the state's drug abuse problem from the three angles. In addition to illegal drugs, the Summit team will also discuss the use of inappropriate prescriptions, alcohol and tobacco in Kentucky. Total cost of the project is $160,000, funded by the Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, and money seized during drug arrests by the Kentucky State Police and the Kentucky Department of Vehicle Enforcement. "The regional summits provide an opportunity for the public to make their concerns known about the problems being faced in their communities," said Cmdr. Capt. Wayne Mayfield of Kentucky State Police Post 3 . "With the limited resources given to combat the drug problem, it is extremely important to know what the specific problem is and where it's at before developing strategies to overcome it." - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom