We just lost a young lade to a possible methadone overdose. Another young man is in the hospital. Last year, we lost numerous students to alcohol. Many sad and grieving parents reside in our community that have lost children to the effects of alcohol or drugs. Isn't it about time to reinstate a drug, alcohol, and violence prevention program back into our school systems?

Education, prevention and enforcement are three key components to the drug war and all need to be a vital part of any good law enforcement program. Terrorism is of ultimate concern, but so are our young people. Many local, state, and federal dollars have gone into the fight for terrorism, but are we forgetting a key component that involves the youth of the city of Marion and Marion County.

As an educator in the city of Marion and a former DARE member, I know many students are not getting enough encouragement or messages to stay away from drugs, alcohol, or violence. Positive role models do not come to our younger children. Children are not hearing positive ways to stay away from these negative influences. Children as young as second or third grade are being approached by people that are dealing in the drug trade.

Children need some of the most positive and influential parts of our community to get behind a program and make it work for our future generations. I know there are many concerned individuals in this community that are willing and able to make this work. There is some money available to help anyone willing to tackle the very important task of providing drug, alcohol, and violence education. Law enforcement from the Marion City Police Department and the Marion County Sheriff's Department certainly needs to be a part of this effort but so are concerned citizens. How many more children or young adults do we need to lose? NOT ONE MORE!

- Dianna Collins