03.20.80

Page 1

SERVING . . . SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS

t eanc 0 VOL. 24, NO. 12

FALL RIVER, MASS., THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 1980

20c, $6 Per Year

Priest fear,s Mideast h路eroin will trigger U.S. epidemic WASHINGTON I~NC) A agencies that the proposed cut- ment and enforcement." He said there are moves New York priest who heads a backs will result in the loss of drug rehabilitation program has 11,000 treatment opportunities around the country to persuade warned that an influx of heroin nationally over the next two state legislatures and municipal from the Middle East may cause years. Because the Carter ad- councils to pass resolutions conan epidemic of drug addiction in ministration's plan also calls for demning the' cuts by the federal the United States dwarfing pre- the diversion of funds from the government and demanding imtreatment of drug abuse to pre- mediate redress. A nationwide vious drug plagues. The priest, Msgr. William B. vention and intervention pro- appeal to religious leaders to ask O'Brien, president of New York's grams, the predicted .loss to their congregations to "flood Daytop Village rehabilitation treatment programs is between Congress and the White House路 program, said the federal Drug $12 million and $19 million. with letters demanding action" Enforcement Administration re"Mr. Carter is pretending that would be made, he said. ports that Western Europe "is the problem isn't there when, "In 1970," Msgr. O'Brien overflowing with Middle East in fact, it's growing uncontrol- said, "700 people in New York heroin" and larger amounts of lably," Msgr. -O'Brien said. City alone died from heroin the drug will reach the United "Adoption of the administra- overdoses. How many thouStates this year. tion's proposed cuts would leave sands must die now before it is "This influx of high quality treatment facilities sadly un- !recognized that this growing Middle Eastern heroin has the equipped to deal with the in- epidemic, spawned by the Midpotential to cause an epidemic creased numbers of addicts dle East drug trade, is as much of drug addiction 2,000 times seeking help. In an effort to of a threat to America as ate greater than that which this avoid such a tragedy, TCA is de- dependence on Middle East oil country experienced in the late manding an increase in the fed- and Soviet Middle East expan'60s and early '70s," Msgr. 0' eral funds available for treat- sion?" Brien said. "Even Attorney General Benjamin Civiletti has said . .- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - we may not be able to stem a considerable portion of the tide." Msgr. O'Brien spoke at a press conference after an emergency meeting of the Therapeutic ComOpening of the second phase in tailoring the April program to munities of America (rCA), a of a youth ministry program be- specific area needs. national coalition of 112 drug- gun last fall in the diocese has It will include sessions on free, addict treatment and re- been announced by Father Marteenagers as today's young habilitation organizations. He is cel H. Bouchard. "what works and church and on the coalition's chairman. Father Bouchard, assistant di- what doesn't in ministry with Msgr. O'Brien cited a recent confidential Department of Jus- ocesan director of religious edu- and for youth." There will be tice report entitled "Operation cation, said Alive in Youth time for small group discussions, Cerberus," which said the drug Ministry: Accepting the ChalTurn to Page Six epidemic of the late 1960s and lenge to Minister will begin its second phase on Saturday, April early 1970s, resulting in the ad- 12 at an all-day session to be . . _ diction of 700,000 young people, at St. Margaret's Education held was caused by Turkey's average opium yield of 80 metric tons Center, Buzzards Bay. annually. Leading a program that will "Since the Justice Department open at 10 a.m. and continue unestimates that annual produc- til 5 p.m. will be Dr. and Mrs. As part of its expansion plan, tion in Iran, Afghanistan and William Coleman of ~ystic, Pakistan averages 1,500 metric Conn., authors of "Daybreak" Catholic Social Services is haptons annually, it is conceivable and "Mine Is the Morning," re- py to announce establishment that 'we may soon experience ligious education series for jun- of an office for the Attleboro the addiction of millions of ior and senior high school youth. Deanery. The Reverend Maurice young Americans," Msgr. 0' The Colemans have published T. Lebel, S.J. has been appointBrien said. "Although it is dif- many books, articles and film- ed area director and the regionficult, even for us, to believe strips in the field of religious al office is located at 32-34 that this is possible, we must education, as well as a premar- Sanford Street in Attleboro. The understand that massive num- riage program, "Only Love Can telephone number is 226-4780. bers of addicts will soon be on Make It Easy." It was in December, with the the streets of every town and They are active in youth min- encouragement and support of city in America." istry in the diocese of Bridge- Bishop Cronin, that Catholic Because of this, the priest port, Conn., contributors to "To- Social Services announced its said, the TCA deplored forth- day's Parish" magaZine and fre- expansion plan. At that time, coming substantial cuts in fed- quent. participants in work- area directors were appointed eral fUllds for drug treatment shops and congresses on religious for the Cape Cod, New Bedford programs throughout the coun- education. They addressed di- and Fall River regions. This try. ocesan coordinators at a meeting new thrust is geared to place Msgr. O'Brien referred to a last November and have used diocesan social service programs National Institute on Drug Abuse suggestions from the diocesan more visibly and efficiently at letter notifying all state drug Youth Ministry Advisory Group Turn to Page Eleven

y ~uth series second phase to study today's teens

FATHER RICHARD McNALLY, SS.CC. delivers homily at 28th annual Acies ceremony of the Legion of Mary at St. Mary's Cathedral.

New office in Attleboro

<f

BISHOP CRONIN and Msgr. William D. Thomson, at his left, join 70 candidates for exemplification of the Fourth Degree in the Knights of Columbus outside St. _Francis Xavier Church, Hyannis.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.