CALIFORNIA, Pa. - William Brna is trying to make the most out of a grim situation that has forever changed his life. The Carroll Township resident had been helping his daughter, Gwendolyn Marie Brna Venanzi, battle a heroin addiction for the past three years. Venanzi, of Pleasant Hills, lost her fight with the drug July 5, when paramedics found her dead at a house party in the Allentown section of Pittsburgh, where evidence of heroin use was found. While Brna won't know for sure if his daughter's death was drug-related until toxicology tests are completed, he's certain her addiction contributed to her demise. [continues 724 words]
School districts around Pennsylvania have cut back or stopped screening students for drug use both because of cost and concerns about legal ramifications. A handful of districts, including Seneca Valley in Butler County, still require drug testing of students, especially those who participate in interscholastic sports. But some officials have been rethinking their policies in light of the state Supreme Court's ruling last year that a desire to discourage drug use among students is not enough to justify "suspicionless" drug screening of parking-permit holders, student-athletes and participants in other extracurricular activities. [continues 398 words]
Monessen Mayor John T. DeLuca believes the city is having a banner year in policing drug activity. DeLuca said city police have generated a 12 percent increase in drug-related arrests this year. His assessment came in the wake of last week's drug sweep, which saw 43 people arrested on an assortment of drug-related charges. It was an added bonus to an already productive year, the mayor said. "We already made six or eight more arrests (by) the beginning of October than we did all last year," DeLuca said. "These are activities that have not been involved with the attorney general's investigation." [continues 380 words]
