The statistics on illegal drugs are troubling. The stories behind them give rise to alarm. At Marywood University on Monday, a panel of experts offered variations on a single theme. While the number of drug arrests multiplies, they said, the drug-related crisis appears to worsen. Keynote speaker Kevin Zeese, president of Common Sense for Drug Policy in Washington, D.C., presented this overview: Since 1980, half a trillion dollars spent on America's drug war. A record number of drug arrests. [continues 648 words]
Of all the wars the United States has fought, the modern-day war at home could be chronicled as the nation's most frustrating and dismal failure. It was almost two decades ago that Congress championed a national war on drugs with the pledge America would be drug-free by 1995. In 2003, that failed promise is long forgotten and drug abuse is worse than ever. Count in millions the lives broken or ended because of drug abuse. Count in millions the families and friends who experience heartbreak because of it. [continues 1909 words]
City police arrested five people Sunday in connection with a weekend shooting that sent one man to the hospital with multiple gunshot wounds. David Bowman, 27, of 1930 Boulevard Ave., is charged with shooting Tyson Joyer outside Rocky's Lounge on Jefferson Avenue. Mr. Joyer, 24, remained in guarded condition at Community Medical Center Sunday night. Mr. Bowman and four others -- Amber Spencer, Tina Barber, Maleek Smith, and a juvenile, all of Scranton -- also are charged with firearms and drug crimes. [continues 382 words]
