Pubdate: Sun, 13 May 2012
Source: Lancaster Eagle-Gazette (OH)
Copyright: 2012 Lancaster Eagle-Gazette
Contact:  http://www.lancastereaglegazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3143

PASSION IS KEY TO WINNING FIGHT ON DRUGS

This past Sunday, the Eagle-Gazette published an article that showed 
just how frustrating the drug problem is for local authorities.

The response to our article, which detailed the sentences handed down 
to people caught up in a pair of highly-publicized drug sweeps 
performed by local law enforcement, has been strong, just as the 
response to the initial sweeps was strong. We thought it was 
important to bring you the rest of the story now that we know the results.

During the past several years, Lancaster has become a battleground in 
the war on drugs. These drug sweeps and, yes, these sentences serve 
as warnings to drug dealers that Fairfield County isn't a safe place 
to do business. At the same time, there are limits to what police and 
the judicial system can do; we can't win the war on drugs in 
Lancaster. All we can do is our incremental work to make life for 
drug dealers more difficult.

Eleven drug dealers were sent to prison for extended stretches. More 
still could end up in prison if they violate their probation, and 
life on probation is no picnic, either. We certainly don't advocate 
for prison sentences for everyone involved in these drug sweeps; in 
some cases, probation is the road to cleaning up a convict's 
lifestyle, and we support that.

When drug dealers get arrested, people frequently complain those 
dealers won't get a significant punishment; instead, they fear 
dealers will get a minimal sentence, not enough to deter them from 
the crime. Police get frustrated when that happens because some of 
those dealers, even the ones who spend time in jail or prison, go 
back to the criminal life as soon as they are released. Our article 
was intended to show our readers just what happens when these dealers 
are caught.

The only real solution, of course, is for the supply of drugs to be 
cut off at the source, and that source isn't in Fairfield County. 
Until government finds a way to eradicate heroin, cocaine and other 
illegal drugs and finds a way to keep legal painkillers available 
only to people with valid subscriptions, this fight will continue. 
The most heartening part of the response we have received is that the 
conversation still is going.

We see a lot of passion in this community for beating drugs, whether 
it's through arresting dealers or supporting drug rehabilitation 
programs. Ultimately, that's the key to winning the local fight on 
drugs. Police and courts can only do so much.
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