Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 9, 1982)
In a crossfire University drug center caught between groups By Sean Meyers Of the Emerald Editor’s Note: This is the second of a three-part series examining current marijuana laws and proposals for changes. The University's Drug Information Center is a Beirut in the Oregon mar ijuana conflict — caught between war ring factions but unwilling to choose sides That position has a few people upset in a war of words where information — whether proven or not — is the dead liest weapon The drug center began 11 years ago and has operated under grants from the University, county and state as well as contributions from private concerns and fees for presentations. But the Legislature, in a budget squeeze, pulled out financial support and the center s staffing has dropped from five full-time employees to two. Despite the cutback, there's no shortage of critics to kick the Drug Information Center while it's down Center director Mark Miller says proponents of both sides of the mar ijuana issue — for and against legalized personal use — end up distorting the purpose of the center to represent their own views. John Saja, a spokesman for the pro marijuana Oregon Marijuana Initiative, says Miller is "teaching kids how (mar ijuana) can be used responsibly " "That is absolutely false,'' says Miller At no time do we promote drugs, and at no time do we encourage drug use Our job — all we re allowed to do — is to provide information We draw criticism from the anti marijuana people because they don't see us pounding the podium against drugs," says Miller "And the pro-mar ijuana people don't want to admit that we show the potential harmful effects of the drug They really want their own values leiieidieu, and we re not here to do that " Miller cited a sur vey that says 60 percent of school kids have smoked marijuana and 40 percent have not "If I walk into a school and appear anti-marijuana then that 60 percent is going to immediate ly turn me off, no matter what I say," says Miller "If I appear pro-marijuana, that 40 percent is going to turn me off, no matter what I say this agency has to be a neutral information source to maintain its credibility "Marijuana is just about the most hotly politicized issue in Oregon," says Miller "Even more so than abortion People don't see it as a gray issue any more, they see it as either black or white." But Oregon Free From Drug Abuse, which represents about 30 organiza tions throughout the state, is less than enamored with Miller's presentations Mark Miller publicly maintains that he is neutral and that he just gives out information," says Nan Henderson, director of the organization. "Our posi tion is that he is not neutral, that he presents the use of illegal drugs as not that bad and not that harmful Henderson says the presentations give the impression that marijuana is "safer than legal drugs using his con sumer safety rules,” Henderson says Miller cites outdated sources that give a distorted picture of the medical effects of drugs. "Especially on marijuana and cocaine We just haven’t been happy with his presentations " Miller says his presentations are threefold — the first task is to provide Emerald Graphic accurate information "I'm well aware of what parents want me to tell their kids But when we exag gerate the issues, we lose credibility," says Miller Presentations also stress "decision making techniques." Dosages of cer tain drugs are available to prevent per manent damage. And the center promotes alterna tives "When you ask a kid what it would take for them to stop using drugs, they say simple Give me something bet ter.’ " Contrary to Oregon Free From Drug Abuse’s stance on Miller’s presenta tions, Oregonians Cooperating to Reduce Drug Abuse, headquartered in Eugene, says Miller gives an accurate picture of the dangers of drug use "When you concentrate your efforts on feeding kids scare stories about how marijuana causes brain damage, and those reports haven't been proved conclusively,” says Joe Wilson, spokesman for OCRDA. then they start questioning the things they hear about PCP, heroin and other danger ous drugs "As far as I’m concerned, what Nan Henderson is doing is using prejudice against marijuana When you do not allow the truth to be known, then what you’re doing is promoting drug abuse " — Funding cuts halt park work By Lisa Erb Of the Emerald The Lane County public works depart ment says it needs private park opera tors" who would maintain County owned parks in return for the rights to operate such enterprises as marina facilities and concession stands on park land The county laid off all of its field main tenance staff on Oct 15 due to county budget cuts. Now there is no one to maintain its five major parks: Orchard Point. Richardson, Baker Bay, Lowell, and Camp Lane "The way things stand right at the moment is that Lane County’s parks are closed," says Craig Starr, superinten dent of the Public Services Division of the Department of Public Works. "We suffered a 50 to 60 percent bud get cut last year," Starr says "And our funds lasted until the middle of October Now we are searching for a way of still providing recreation opportunities for the county.” A major proposition under considera tion now is to allow private businesses to operate on park land and to use some of their revenues to keep the park properly maintained A business contract has been drafted, and will be discussed and made final at a meeting today at 7:30 p m in the main meeting room of Harris Hall, 125 E Eighth Avenue k The Open Space Advisory Committee will solicit comments from public and private park operators, and request competitive bids from those interested in taking on park maintenance. The general provisions of the proposed contract cite the business owner as the "park operator" responsi ble for landscape, facility maintenance, operation and management of monring boats, camping, picnic reservations entry fees, concessions and events According to Craig, the county will exercise a large amount of control over the general quality of the park and its facilities Craig expresses doubts about con tracting with businesses as a solution "It's pretty tough We've got records of how much revenues parks bring in, and how much money the county has spent, and we couldn't cover our cost " a! T>ec& t&e StHVudcl feayeb wid ttael noteA IS fAtfACCA tvAxdA (ax *1.50 c( placed 6y l p.*K. Tkc. tO at the acetal IacoUaha. NAME: ADDRESS: MESSAGE: DATE: T>Se 3. m2 PHONE: IS tAAXtU (ax *f 50 15 cchU (ax eacH addfflA*al «*Axd aocx IS. COST NO. OF WORDS (fanhu} QtC. f3 (* S*HtwUd
