Pubdate: Sun, 12 Nov 2006
Source: Herald-Dispatch, The (Huntington, WV)
Copyright: 2006 The Herald-Dispatch
Contact:  http://www.hdonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1454
Author: Anne McGee, Project Director for the Cabell County Substance Abuse
Prevention Partnership.

EVERYONE MUST HELP IN FIGHT TO RID HUNTINGTON OF DRUGS

Like most people, I never thought of Huntington as having a serious 
drug problem. Gradually, my awareness began to change. The shootings 
of the four teenagers on prom night (four blocks away from where I 
grew up) and the drive-by shootings on Fairfax Drive and 12th Avenue 
(streets where friends and family live) were alarming to me. I 
remember thinking that "someone" should do "something."

Soon thereafter, I found myself newly employed as a project director 
for a substance abuse prevention planning grant. I became immersed in 
all things related to substance abuse issues in Cabell County and 
surrounded by people who care passionately about these issues that 
plague our community, state and nation.

What I have learned in the last seven months is alarming to me as a 
mother, a Huntington native and a Cabell County resident, and 
frankly, it should be alarming to everyone living here. Even though 
nationwide drug use is down from its highest rates and Cabell County 
is at or below national rates for many statistics.

Consumption rates in Cabell County for cocaine and non-medical use of 
prescription drugs exceed state and national averages -- 22.8 percent 
of our children report using illicit drugs, and 37.6 percent of our 
children report that their parents never or seldom talk to them about drugs.

The drug-related arrest and mortality rates in Cabell County far 
exceed the state rates. When comparing the data regarding substance 
abuse for all 55 counties in West Virginia, Cabell is ranked fourth 
in need of prevention efforts. Not surprisingly, the results of a 
Community Readiness Assessment conducted this summer indicated that 
Cabell rated a 2 on a nine-point scale, meaning that the residents in 
our county are in a state of denial or resistance when it comes to 
substance abuse prevention.

No wonder out-of-town drug dealers come to Huntington. Our community 
provides a steady supply of customers. Relying on law enforcement and 
treatment facilities to address this problem is not enough.

The 2006 Cabell Drug Summit on Nov. 30 at the Big Sandy Superstore 
Arena is an opportunity for this community to focus on solutions to 
the drug problem. Substance abuse is a complex and far reaching 
community problem. Our community needs to come together -- our 
children, our parents, our schools, our faith communities, our 
neighborhoods, our elected officials, our health care providers, our 
social service workers, our businesses, our media, our treatment 
providers and our criminal justice system.

Everyone is part of the solution. We are all the "someone" who needs 
to do "something." Invitations are being sent to representatives of 
all sectors of our community. Invitees are encouraged to let us know 
if we can plan on their attendance.

If you would like to be part of the solution, please contact the 
Cabell County Substance Abuse Prevention Partnership at (304) 
523-8929 ext. 17 or  ---
MAP posted-by: Elaine