cannabisnews.com: Top Drug Fighter Visits Opa-Locka





Top Drug Fighter Visits Opa-Locka
Posted by FoM on April 20, 2000 at 22:18:17 PT
By Ajowa Nzinga Ifateyo
Source: Miami Herald
Gen. Barry McCaffrey said America does not have a national drug problem; instead, `community drug epidemics.'The nation's top drug fighter came to Opa-locka's infamous Triangle on Tuesday to tell dozens of residents bluntly that it was up to them to find solutions to the problems narcotics cause in their neighborhood.
``Nobody's in charge of America,'' said Gen. Barry McCaffrey, director of the Office of National Drug Control. ``You've got to organize yourselves in a community.''McCaffrey delivered his remarks in the Triangle, a neighborhood well-acquainted with drugs and the turf-war violence they inspire. More than 100 people heard McCaffrey speak at the Young, Bowers and Brown Cultural Arts Center. Before he uttered a single word, participants -- dozens of them standing along the walls -- gave him a standing ovation.McCaffrey said America does not have a national drug problem; instead, there are ``community drug epidemics.'' The solution, he said, lies with people in communities like Opa-locka coming together and keeping the faith.``What's the biggest problem?'' he asked. ``A lot of decent people like you think that the problem is hopeless. Lots of Americans have given up. We just put our heads down.''He said police and sheriffs departments ``are not going to solve the problem of 5 million drug addicts in America.'' True solutions should come from residents in neighborhoods starting to identify local addicts and developing strategies to help them, he said. ``You can't begin to understand the problem unless you collect data locally and organize yourselves in your community,'' he said. ``There's no doubt about it. The solution to the problem is right here in the room. The future is in your hands.''He also said that many young people start to use drugs in grade school, beginning a downward spiral that leads to other problems. ``If you want to do something about drug addiction, you've got to get me when I'm in the 8th grade,'' McCaffrey told the group that included ministers, social workers and anti-drug groups.Programs such as the Boys and Girls Clubs, the YMCA and football leagues are critical, he said. ``Once you give kids a lifeline where they can rescue themselves, they will grab it.''McCaffrey announced some startling figures about drugs and blacks, who make up more than 60 percent of Opa-locka's population:African Americans, who are 12 percent of America's population, account for 14 percent of users of crack cocaine under 30.Of users serving time for possession of crack cocaine, 88 percent are black. Blacks comprise 30 percent of those arrested for drugs and 48 percent of those behind bars for drug-related offenses.``You can bet your bottom dollar it has nothing to do with race,'' McCaffrey said, adding that Midwestern communities have just as big a problems with drugs as inner cities.Kathy Hightower, 41, unemployed Triangle resident who attended the meeting, agreed with McCaffrey about focusing on children.``The young people don't have anything to keep their minds occupied,'' said Hightower. ``We need help. We just can't do it by ourselves, as a parent, as a community.''By Ajowa Nzinga IfateyoE-Mail : aifateyo herald.com Published: Thursday, April 20, 2000 Copyright 2000 Miami HeraldRelated Articles:Drug Director Criticizes Journalisthttp://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread5444.shtmlA Way to Beat Illegal Drugs http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread5425.shtmlhttp://www.cannabisnews.com/news/list/McCaffrey.shtmlhttp://google.com/search?lc=&num=10&q=cannabisnews+McCaffrey+site:cannabisnews.com 
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Comment #3 posted by legalizeit on April 21, 2000 at 07:46:56 PT
Impeach Clinton for possession of crackpot!
>He said police and sheriffs departments ``are not going to solve the problem of 5 million drug addicts in America.''For once he speaks the truth. Drug addiction is a health, not a law-enforcement issue. Of course, his definition of "addict" includes responsible pot smokers.>``If you want to do something about drug addiction, you've got to get me when I'm in the 8th grade,'' McCaffrey told the groupSomeone should have gotten him in the 8th grade and sent him to some psychiatric treatment or at least beat his ass.>African Americans, who are 12 percent of America's population, account for 14 percent of users of crack cocaine under 30.Crack which was invented as a result of the drug war.>``There's no doubt about it. The solution to the problem is right here in the room. The future is in your hands.''Yeah. It's called VOTE THE PROHIBITIONISTS OUT OF OFFICE! That's the lesson the people never seem to learn.>``Nobody's in charge of America,'' said Gen. Barry McCaffreyBrings a new light to the term "controlled substance"!
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Comment #2 posted by mungojelly on April 21, 2000 at 07:42:23 PT:
"I spend billions of dollars a year...
...but even I don't think that I'm doing anything about the problem! Sorry! You'll have to deal with it yourself! But i'm not going to step down, or stop spending your money on programs that don't work. Heeellllll no." "Of users serving time for possession of crack cocaine, 88 percent are black." -- I don't get it. What does he think he's trying to illustrate? What can this statistic prove other than the fact that the drug war he commands is racist & corrupt? 
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Comment #1 posted by dddd on April 20, 2000 at 23:19:18 PT
Super Good
This czars' recent public statements,and appearances keep making the WOD look sillier and sillier.I hope he continues,because,much to his chagrin,he is becoming an allie. "``Nobody's in charge of America,'' said Gen. Barry McCaffrey, director of the Officeof National Drug Control. " Then what the hell are we doing with someone who has the title,"Czar"?If nobody's in charge of America,then why are people like the czar,and his cronies on capital hill acting as if they are in charge of everyone,and everything? It gets even more tragicly hilarious when we hear such deep insights as;""Once you give kids a lifeline where they can rescue themselves, they will grab it.''This rhetoric breaks new ground in the meaningless statement category. I was also dazzled by learning we now have 5 million drug addicts in America.I'm looking forward to hearing more from this pitiful guy.He's kinda looking more and more like Dan Quayle in a uniform........dddd
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