Pubdate: Sat, 26 Feb 2005
Source: Charlotte Sun Herald (FL)
Copyright: 2005 Sun Coast Media Group Inc.
Contact:  http://www.sun-herald.com/newsch.htm
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1708
Author: Dan Tierney, Staff Writer

ANTI-DRUG COUNCIL MEETS FOR FIRST TIME

MURDOCK -- Lenny Rifkin says his goal is not to step on any toes or
conflict with any existing groups.

He is going public in Charlotte County for one reason, and one reason
only -- to help rid the area of drugs.

"I don't want to duplicate," Rifkin said. "I don't want to overtake
anyone. I'm here to enhance and make better what's here."

Rifkin's Substance Abuse Education Council met for the first time with
about 40 friends, colleagues and area business representatives at a
breakfast in Murdock Friday morning. Started in 1993 by Rifkin in New
York, the SAEC's goal is "to promote and fund substance abuse
awareness for our youth through the first line of defense --
education," the mission statement states.

According to Rifkin, a 63-year-old retired former owner of 270 travel
agencies, he started the program after hearing of an undercover Drug
Enforcement Agency agent who was killed by a drug dealer. Rifkin
decided the best way to prevent such heinous acts is to start with
informing juveniles of how destructive drugs can be.

His program eventually spread, by his own account, to more than 100
towns and communities in New York. The SAEC even funded anti-drug
programs in Utah, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He says nearly every
place the SAEC spread to saw at least a 50 percent reduction in crime
after two years.

That kind of progress makes Rifkin question why Amity Chandler,
director of the Charlotte Alliance for a Safe & Drug Free Community,
realistically expects to see only a 2 percent to 5 percent drop each
year in the use of drugs and alcohol by juveniles.

"It's unacceptable," Rifkin said.

However, former Charlotte County Sheriff William Cameron, who attended
the breakfast, remains unsure of how effective Rifkin can be in the
community and lauded Chandler's efforts.

In Cameron's opinion, if the SAEC is simply used as a fund-raising
tool for existing anti-drug programs, it could help greatly. He
worries that if the program does anything more, it could detract from
what others-- like Chandler-- are trying to do.

But Rifkin maintains that the not-for-profit SAEC is not to hinder,
but to help.

"Many people repeating the same thing (to juveniles) is a good thing,"
he said.

To drive home his point, Rifkin brought Dominic Albanese, a special
agent with the DEA, to the meeting. Albanese said stopping the problem
runs from the national level all the way down to communities like in
Charlotte County.

"It takes everybody to stop the drug problem," he said. "Drugs are
kicking our butt, but we're not going to give up.

"Where would we be if we did nothing?"

Despite Friday being the first official meeting, Rifkin is already off
and running with his plans. A fund-raising car show is in the works
for February 2006. He's also talked with Port Charlotte Town Center
representatives about holding a DEA junior special agent "swearing-in"
ceremony for youths pledging to not do drugs. He said a similar event
in New York brought out around 8,000 people.

A local business owner also already pledged to design an SAEC
headquarters on property Rifkin owns for free, while Wachovia Bank
already pledged to give "thousands" of dollars.

And the fast-talking, confident Rifkin said should the Charlotte
County Sheriff's Office back his efforts, the next breakfast meeting
will be for around 350 people.

"We're just here to make a mark," he said. "And I will make my mark."
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin