TERRE HAUTE -- On Friday, some fourth-graders at Deming Elementary glued together a paper "strategy cube" that gave them six ways to say no to tobacco, alcohol and drugs.

If a so-called friend tried to pressure them, they could just say no or simply walk away.

They could use the broken record approach and say, no, no, no, again and again.

They could ignore the person who wants them to do something they shouldn't; they could come up with a better idea or they could make an excuse.

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A circuit court judge in Mississippi has ordered a new sentencing trial for Cory Maye, a man sentenced to death for shooting a police officer who had broken into his home in a no-knock drug raid in 2001. Judge Michael Eubanks ruled recently that Maye's legal counsel during the sentencing phase was unconstitutionally inadequate, and he is expected to rule later on requests for a "not guilty" verdict or a new trial.

Maye's plight is a case study in the problems with drug policing in America, from questionable confidential informants to invasive paramilitary tactics, overworked and underfunded defense attorneys, and how all of the above seem to disproportionately affect low-income people, particularly African-Americans.

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Most people are quick to attribute the drop in cigarette, alcohol and drug use among Southwest Allen County Schools students to the random drug testing program that has been placed in the school system's two middle schools and one high school. However, common sense from a student taking those very drug surveys that led to drug testing can prove otherwise.

In middle and high school, the anonymous drug surveys given to students are seen as a joke. Not only do kids say they have done drugs that they have not heard of, they fill in the corresponding bubble saying they used cocaine more than 50 times a week as a sixth-grader. Until now, these drug surveys have shown ridiculous numbers of drug users in the district resulting from the anonymity of the test.

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MUNCIE -- An investigation into the death of a young man in an apparent overdose this week led to the arrest of his drug dealer, according to authorities.

Thomas Lee Saunders Jr., 20, was discovered lifeless Monday morning at a friend's house in the 200 block of North Pershing Street with a fentanyl patch on his left shoulder, according to police reports.

Later that day police arrested Joshua Corwin, 18, 610 S. Council St., on preliminary charges of dealing in a schedule II controlled substance, a class B felony carrying a standard 10-year prison term, and possession of marijuana, a misdemeanor.

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ISU's New Town And Gown Lecture Series To Address Meth Use In Wabash Valley

Today Indiana State University is bringing speakers from the Terre Haute community together to present their views on the methamphetamine problem in Terre Haute and the United States.

As part of the Cunningham Memorial Library's new Town and Gown lecture series, "Meth Valley: Why here? Why now?" will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Cunningham Memorial Library in the first floor Browsing Area, said Steve Hardin, chair of the lecture and ISU reference and instructional librarian.

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Porter County Politics: Drug Enforcement Pledge Just A Distraction, They Say

VALPARAISO - It's not the drugs -- it's the developers, county Democrats say.

It's also election season, and voters and Porter County politicians already are sparring to set the agenda for November's contests.

County Republicans are off-message and uninformed about who pulls the Porter County purse springs, Democratic commission President Bob Harper said in response to a Republican pledge to make funding drug treatment and enforcement a priority.

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Two years ago as a freshman -- bright eyed, bushy tailed and ready to begin my wholesome education -- I strolled into my philosophy discussion with an open mind, ready to learn from my "more than capable" and "morally sound" assistant instructor. To begin the course, our humble teacher decided to get to know us better. So he inquired about what we kids were doing for fun those days. We bombarded him with talk of bars, bowling and other bull, and finally someone returned the question: What do you do for fun? His response:

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Natalie Avon's column about SAFER ("Herb or Hops?" Sept. 13) demonstrates her naivete when it comes to the culture of partying on college campuses.

She suggests college students stay home on weekends and have a bowl of ice cream instead of partaking in alcohol or marijuana use. First, she should consider that high-fat diets consisting of ice cream cause even more deaths each year than alcohol and marijuana combined. But more importantly, her proposal is a public policy disaster on par with preaching abstinence over educating people about practicing safe sex.

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As many as 74 percent of Americans say that addiction to alcohol has had some impact on them at some point in their lives, whether it was their own personal addiction, that of a friend or family member, or any other experience with addiction. This is an increase from a similar study in 2004, in which a 63 percent majority held that view.

Yet many people in treatment and recovery face stigma and discrimination, which can be a barrier to receiving treatment. According to a 2004 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 21.6 percent of the 1.2 million people who felt they needed treatment but did not receive it indicated it was because of reasons related to stigma.

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What do the following public figures have in common? William Jefferson Clinton, George W. Bush, Joe Kernan, Mitch Daniels, Al Gore, Rush Limbaugh. Answer: They have all used illicit drugs or been addicted to licit drugs.

In a recent debate here in Indiana, Governor Kernan mentioned his youthful use. Mitch Daniels has been dodging issues related to a drug law arrest many years ago. The only other candidate for governor in Indiana, Kenn Gividen, has never use alcohol or illicit drugs. Kernan and Daniels' use was passed off to youthful indiscretions, of no current importance.

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Response to "Herb or Hops" Opinion front, Sept. 13.

Let us not forget that it is illegal to possess cannabis, therefore people shouldn't have any amount of THC in their body from cannabis. Maybe a better solution to the issue would be to increase the penalties related to alcohol. Less alcohol related injuries and fatalities, while still cracking down on cannabis. The government just cares about the money so this would be a big plus.

Lowering the penalties related to cannabis isn't the answer.

Chris Martin

IU Student

[end]

Response to "Herb or Hops" Opinion front, Sept. 13.

I can see it now -- All the conservative writers around Ernie Pyle Hall running their eyes over this letter. "Oh, great. Another pothead doing the whole mindless 'Legalize it!' rant..." Think what you will, but all I'm asking for are some facts.

The recent Opinion piece, "Herb or Hops?" while a great idea, was not nearly as publicized as it should have been. Marijuana use on college campuses may be an extremely taboo subject -- another one of those 'unspoken topics' that go along with religion and politics - but regardless, people care about it. I hope you hear more concerning continuing the coverage of this topic, because smoker or not, everyone is interested.

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As Major Universities Face Referenda to Treat Both Recreational Substances the Same, IDS Columnists Wonder, Are They Really?

CONSEQUENCES UNBALANCED?

Considering IU's reputation as a party school and several IU students' recent alcohol-related hospitalizations, adopting a proposal similar to those at other major universities regarding marijuana use would be an improvement to current policy.

Studies have shown that 50 percent of car-accident fatalities are caused by drivers with alcohol in their blood stream, while only 7 percent to 20 percent are caused by drivers with THC, the mind-altering substance found in Cannabis plants, in their systems. And 70 percent to 90 percent of those with THC in their blood stream also have alcohol in their blood stream. According to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Task Force on College Drinking, alcohol plays a part in 1,400 deaths, 500,000 injuries and 70,000 sexual assaults each year.

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As Major Universities Face Referenda to Treat Both Recreational Substances the Same, IDS Columnists Wonder, Are They Really?

My ceramics class last year took a turn for the worst when I realized that everybody at my table was forming pieces with their creative spirits and artistic fingers.

I am not talking about bowls or flowerpots. I'm talking about pipe pieces.

Knowing what smoking pot can do to people, I naturally got very upset when I heard about campus proposals by a group in Colorado called SAFER.

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VALPARAISO -- County government leaders will discuss contributing to a fund to bring an adolescent drug treatment center to Porter County.

The Community Action Drug Coalition voted last month to partner with Pathway Family Center to bring a center to Porter County to help addicted teens ages 14 to 19.

Bob Taylor, with the Porter County Drug Task Force, told the Porter County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday the CADC needs another $200,000 to help get the center up and running. The CADC has already committed $100,000.

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The Linton Police Department and Linton-Stockton Elementary School are collaborating to bring the nationwide DARE program to the school's fifth-graders.

Standing for Drug Abuse Resistance Education, DARE educates kids about the pitfalls of drug abuse and ways of combating it, according to LPD Chief Troy Jerrell, the impetus for the program. He said Patrol Officer Debbie McDonald will teach a class at least once a week that will focus on different aspects of drug abuse and ways to resist it.

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Indianapolis: Those With Convictions Linked To Drug Would Be Tracked Online

INDIANAPOLIS -- A Northwest Indiana legislator wants officials to consider creating an Internet registry to track those convicted of dealing or manufacturing methamphetamine, an addictive stimulant that's become a scourge of many rural communities.

All 50 states and the federal government employ similar online databases to monitor the movement of paroled sex offenders. State Rep. Ralph Ayres, R-Chesterton, on Monday announced the legislative study committee he chairs will explore whether Indiana should join Illinois and three other states that do the same for meth convicts. "The drug's obviously deadly, and it's cheap," Ayres said.

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Role Of New Testing Procedures

VALPARAISO -- The number of probationers testing positive for cocaine use fell by one-half over previous months since the county began implementing a new oral procedure aimed at eliminating the potential of false results.

Fourteen percent of the oral tests taken in August came back positive, as compared to 30 percent in June, 33 percent in May, 11 percent in April and 31 percent in March, Porter County Adult Probation Chief Neil Hannon said. Few oral tests were taken in July because of the reliability concerns raised by defense attorneys.

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The Issue: Drug Abuse

Our Opinion: The Meth Registry Rep. Ralph Ayres Proposes Is Unlike The Sex Registry. The Purpose Of The Sex Registry Is To Protect People From Sex Crimes Because Of The High Recidivism

Should drug dealers be treated the same as sex offenders? A proposal by state Rep. Ralph Ayres, R-Chesterton, begs that question.

Ayres said last week the legislative study committee he is leading will look at whether Indiana should create a meth registry to track people convicted of dealing or manufacturing methamphetamine. Illinois and three other states have meth registries similar to that used for sex offenders.

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Pot Growing Wild In Illinois Forest Preserve Near Dyer

Cook County Forest Preserve police discovered about 4,000 marijuana plants growing wild in unincorporated Illinois after receiving a tip from Dyer police.

Cook County Forest Preserve Police Chief Rich Waszak said police removed the marijuana plants Saturday from the Plum Creek Forest Preserve, near Burnham Avenue between Lynwood and Sauk Village across the state line from Dyer. He said the street value of the plants was between $2 million and $3 million and the plants were between 12 and 13 feet tall.

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