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Opinion
Parties,
not the raids should be big concern
November
15, 2006
When
a Greenwood party was raided in August and several teen-agers
and adults were arrested on alcohol and drug charges, the
strangest thing happened. At a time when you’d think parents
would be happy that somebody was looking out for the welfare
of their youngsters. the opposite occurred. Some of them - and
other adults - blamed the sheriff’s office for raiding the
party and the newspaper for printing the news about the raid
and the charges.
Since that time there have been at least a
couple of other situations where arrests have been made in
similar circumstances. The latest was last Friday night where
nine persons were arrested and at least half of them were
juveniles, some intoxicated.
THEY ARE FACING
ALCOHOL and drug charges. Deputies say they
encountered 15 to 20 teens and noticed a very strong smell of
marijuana in the home.
These recent raids could lead some
to think that alcohol and drug violations among teens is
rising in Greenwood.
Chances are, though, it’s nothing new.
There have been indications of this kind of activity around
town for a number of years.
Sheriff Dan Wideman, in fact,
said, “You have to be careful when you analyze statistics like
arrest rates. Although the numbers may appear to indicate that
our teen drinking and drug problem has shot through the roof,
it’s more likely that we’re just getting better at locating
alcohol and drug abuse and intervening.” That’s
good.
Everyone in Greenwood should be supporting the effort
of the sheriff’s department to solve the problem instead of
pointing fingers.
IT’S COUNTERPRODUCTIVE
to censure the sheriff’s office for doing what it
should be doing. It helps keep youngsters from hurting or
killing themselves - or someone else - while they are under
the influence of drugs or alcohol, not to mention long-term
trouble with the law and/or health.
One thing that should
have gotten everyone’s attention about the most recent party
and raid. That was one sentence in the report: No parents were
at home at the time of the party .....”
The overall
situation in Greenwood is a sad commentary on us all. Everyone
here should be concerned, not that the sheriff is doing his
job, but because such parties are being held in Greenwood in
the first place. Add to it that so many underage kids
participate and it becomes that much more worrisome. Or
should.
Editorial expression in this feature represents
our own views.
Opinions are limited to this page.
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