Drugs

Drugs. They're one of the biggest issues for law enforcement in our county. Like much of Rural America, Saline County has seen the use of methamphetamine grow and fester like a cancer.

In my time as a crime reporter, I saw countless people arrested time and time again on drug charges. And Sheriff Wally George has told me that these people are the grandchildren of the people he arrested 30 years ago.

It is well past time to stop this cycle. We must break the chains that shackle our friends and neighbors and help lift them up.In Saline County we have a program called "STOP" and it's a good one. Those letters stand for Sanction, Treatment, Opportunity and Progress and the program is designed to help first-time nonviolent drug offenders get their lives back on track.

The Prosecuting Attorney's office has had some real success stories with STOP. Don Stouffer has told me about seeing the physical and emotional healing take place as the participants reclaim their lives.

But we need to take it a step farther. Let's help the repeat offenders. A report released by the Government Accountability Office found that most adult drug court programs lead to recidivism reductions. That means fewer people making return trips to jail and through our court system.

Obviously, these programs cost money, but it's money well spent. All the programs reviewed by the GAO yielded positive net benefits, primarily from reductions in recidivism affecting judicial system costs and avoided costs to potential victims.

In addition, financial assistance is available to start these programs. For example the Bureau of Justice Assistance's Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program has grants for the implementation and enhancement of drug courts and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has several programs which provide funds to reduce drug-related crime.