Sheriff: Stop supply, demand in drug war

Recently we had some activity in the realm of drug arrests. I want to personally thank each and every law enforcement officer along with our district attorney, corp counsel and probation and parole staff, whose cooperation and collaboration make it possible for us to do the work that we do in keeping our communities safe.

While these arrests were highly visible in the media and showcase the work we do on a daily basis to suppress drug use and drug trafficking throughout our communities, it is only half of the equation. Just like any business model, you rely on two factors: supply and demand. In the war on drugs, we tend to hear more about the efforts which take place on the suppression and elimination of supply but not much on the demand side.

Here in Kewaunee County, we have some great resources attempting to address this very issue. Through our County’s Human Services Department, we have had a group meeting to coordinate efforts surrounding prevention of not only drugs but any destructive behavior dealing with drugs, alcohol and cigarette use. Much of this effort is focused on our youth as they are the future of our communities both globally and locally, but there are resources for adults as well who find themselves struggling with addiction.

Each month, we hold a meeting of our FACES (Families and Communities Encouraging Success) and we explore various issues within our county and what we can do as a community to provide alternatives to the destructive decisions which cost us both in resources spent as well as in lives wasted. One of the many programs we have created out of this work group is the TMAD (Teens Making A Difference), which is a mentoring group which partners high school students with grade-school students to provide role modeling and group activities which foster healthy decisions and healthy relationships.

We also participate in state and national awareness initiatives such as “Parents Who Host Lose The Most”, which educates our communities on the risks of hosting underage alcohol parties and provides options for safe gatherings of our youth especially during homecoming, prom and graduation.

Aside from all of these efforts, we are fortunate to have a local Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse assessment and treatment unit within our Human Services Department, which provides support for those battling in the struggle of addiction. These services can be used by anyone in our community by simply reaching out to the Human Services Department at (920) 388-7030.

Although the recent narcotic operation was successful, make no mistake that this is an ongoing effort which will result in arrests and charges on an almost daily basis throughout the year. If you are engaged in the sale or trafficking of narcotics, our goal is to put you out of business. We as a community will do this by eliminating your product as well as providing help to those who you prey on until they no longer need your product. It’s simple supply and demand!

Matt Joski is the Kewaunee County sheriff.

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press Gazette: Sheriff: Stop supply, demand in drug war