“WE’VE GOT AN unreported war going on in our society ... a war that’s killing 1,000 Americans a week.” Worse, America is losing that war because it is no longer a priority.

That’s how Columbia Urban League President J.T. McLawhorn assesses the struggle to reduce illegal drug activity and the toll it is exacting on individuals, families and communities.

“We’ve got to do something to eliminate drugs. No one on the national scene is talking about it,” he said. “President Bush isn’t talking about this war. Senator Kerry isn’t talking about this war.”

Mr. McLawhorn cites a 2000 report by the White House’s Office of National Drug Control Policy that said drugs are responsible for the deaths of 52,000 Americans a year, and the cost of the problem adds up to $110 billion a year.

Mr. McLawhorn joined church and community leaders, law enforcement representatives and others Friday to raise this important issue. The Columbia contingent’s press conference coincided with others in more than 10 other communities across the country calling on President Bush and Sen. John Kerry to outline a plan to end the spread of drugs.

The news conference got about as much attention as Mr. McLawhorn says the drug issue gets — very little. Other than myself, there was only one other representative of the media, from WLTX-TV. (And I might not have been there had my wife, Tanya, a licensed professional counselor and addictions counselor, not been asked to share some real-life perspective based on what she sees in her practice.)

Law enforcement, schools and others continue to fight drugs, but it seems there is no sense of urgency from authorities or the public to make it a priority.

Maj. Norman Caldwell of the Columbia Police Department said illicit drug activity remains prevalent despite projects such as DARE and other efforts.

He said recent data show that 108 million Americans 12 or older — 46 percent of the population — have used illicit drugs at least once. “About two-thirds of the growth in inmates held in local jails for drug violations was due to the increased number of persons charged with drug trafficking. Statistics show that over 76,000 jail inmates were charged with drug trafficking in 2002,” he said.

“Two-thirds of 2002 jail inmates said they were regular drug users. More than half of those inmates who had been convicted reported having used drugs in the month before their current offense. A third said they were using drugs at the time of their offense,” Maj. Caldwell said.

He said drug addictions lead to criminal activities such as theft, robbery, prostitution and burglary. That doesn’t count the crimes associated with the sales and purchase of illicit drugs.

A.V. Strong, founder of “A Better Way” Project GO (Gang Out), said many youths tell him they got high before committing criminal acts. “We know there is a direct correlation between the rate of violence and drug use in our community,” said Mr. Strong, whose organization helps keep at-risk youths out of gangs.

The community leaders said it is critical that we come up with strategies to keep drugs out of neighborhoods and schools. They also stressed the need to persuade more people to seek treatment.

It will take a gargantuan effort on the part of all levels of government as well as businesses, nonprofits, churches, schools, law enforcement and families to address this issue. Its tentacles run deeper than the crack addict on the corner or the curious teen or college student seeking a thrill.

Drugs can be the ultimate heartbreaker, leaving families and marriages in ruin. I’ve heard many stories about addicts who once seemed to be model children turn to breaking into their parents’ home to steal items that will later be pawned, sold or exchanged to feed drug habits.

Tanya says the abuse and addictions spawned by the illegal drug trade don’t just hurt the poor or minorities. They hit every race, gender and socio-economic group. And the damage isn’t just to those who use drugs.

She tells the story of a seemingly secure man she met a few years ago who had a high-paying job, a beautiful wife and children. He lived in the proverbial house on the hill. He always proclaimed he would do anything to protect and nourish his family.

Not long ago, that man walked into a center where Tanya counsels drug abusers. He looked nothing like the man she knew. Somewhere along the line, he ran into a buzz-saw — a drug habit he couldn’t kick. He had lost it all — the job, the house, the family.

How deeply have drugs penetrated our society?

The Rev. Ronnie Brailsford, pastor at Bethel AME Church, said even churches must acknowledge they aren’t untouched. Instead, they must join the fight. “We’ve got the problems at the door with the ushers. We’ve got problems in the pulpit with the preachers,” he said. “We have problems within and without.”

“We must realize that we are in a war and that this is first and foremost a spiritual war,” the Rev. Brailsford said. He said officials should join with communities and churches to make the war on drugs “one of the most important faith-based initiatives of all.”

Mr. McLawhorn said all elected officials and the public must get involved. “We need to put drug elimination at the top of the ladder,” he said.

Reach Mr. Bolton at (803) 771-8631 or wbolton@thestate.com.