This document discusses strategies to address narcotics use and distribution in a local community. It describes the challenges law enforcement faces in responding to criminal networks that constantly adapt. It also discusses risk factors for substance abuse and prevention strategies. The document outlines a community organizing effort called CUFS that brought together local groups and agencies to more effectively target drug houses and trafficking networks through grants, prosecution, and legal action. While making progress, it notes this approach does not solve the larger drug problems and more work is still needed. It provides resources for substance abuse clinics and relevant state agencies.

1. How to solve my
community issue
Breaking the cycle of Narcotics Use/Distribution
Presented By: Jeremy Nichols

2. The Problem

3. Ubiquitous Narcotics Use / Distribution

6. Cat and Mouse
• Criminal networks are very sensitive to policing efforts and they constantly
adapt their tactics.
• They will seek out new distribution methods, opportunities and
technologies that will facilitate their criminal interests.
• Law enforcement agencies need to constantly monitor the environment and
be able to anticipate and respond to changes in the methods used by
criminal networks.

7. Cat and Mouse
• There is a known correlation between illicit drug use and other crimes.
• The core focus for police is to reduce the supply of narcotics but the
challenge is that agencies are often forced to rely on old tools and
techniques.
• Effective systems are required to provide reliable intelligence led operations
and maximize the impact on high level illicit drug distribution, particularly
focusing upon organized crime networks who maintain control of the
neighborhoods in which they operate

8. Substance Abuse

9. Substance Abuse
Prevention
• The most promising route to effective
strategies for the prevention of adolescent
alcohol and other drug problems is through a
risk-focused approach.
• Study results suggest that stimulant therapy in
childhood is associated with a reduction in the
risk for subsequent drug and alcohol use
disorders.
Risk and protective factors for alcohol and other drug problems inRisk and protective factors for alcohol and other drug problems in
adolescence and early adulthood: Implications for substance abuseadolescence and early adulthood: Implications for substance abuse
prevention.prevention.
Hawkins, J. David; Catalano, Richard F.; Miller, Janet Y.Hawkins, J. David; Catalano, Richard F.; Miller, Janet Y.
Psychological Bulletin, Vol 112(1), Jul 1992, 64-105. doi: 10.1037/0033-Psychological Bulletin, Vol 112(1), Jul 1992, 64-105. doi: 10.1037/0033-
2909.112.1.642909.112.1.64
PEDIATRICS Vol. 111 No. 1 January 1, 2003PEDIATRICS Vol. 111 No. 1 January 1, 2003
pp. 179 -185pp. 179 -185
(doi: 10.1542/peds.111.1.179)(doi: 10.1542/peds.111.1.179)

10. Substance Abuse
Cause
• Demographic characteristics are strong
predictors of substance abuse, with gender,
age, race, and socioeconomic status being
most important.
Prevalence of Substance Abuse in Schizophrenia: Demographic and ClinicalPrevalence of Substance Abuse in Schizophrenia: Demographic and Clinical
Correlates.Correlates.
Mueser, Kim T.; Yarnold, Paul R.; Levinson, Douglas F.; Singh, Hardeep;Mueser, Kim T.; Yarnold, Paul R.; Levinson, Douglas F.; Singh, Hardeep;
Bellack, Alan S.; Kee, Kimmy; Morrison, Randall L.; Yadalam, Kashinath G.Bellack, Alan S.; Kee, Kimmy; Morrison, Randall L.; Yadalam, Kashinath G.
Schizophrenia Bulletin, Vol 16(1), 1990, 31-56.Schizophrenia Bulletin, Vol 16(1), 1990, 31-56.

11. Trafficking
• Well, your first call most likely would be meaningless. If you called 911,
they'd say it wasn't an emergency.
• If you called your local police station, they probably wouldn't have the
manpower to seriously pursue your information.
• Most squad cars on the street are "radio police," meaning they respond only
to the 911 dispatcher. Not even their district commander can pull them off
911 duty to check into your complaint.

12. Trafficking
• Even if you get past the stated initial frustrations, you're going to have a hard time
closing down your neighborhood dope house.
• Let's say you and a group of like-minded neighbors are able to get a meeting with
your local police commander, and he promises to check out your complaint.
• In practice, this often means uniformed police will cruise down your street,
stopping some of the likely offenders for a not-so-friendly chat. If they can't scare
the bad guys away, and you keep complaining, they might stage a bust. And that
will usually slow up a well-organized drug dealer for a couple of dayscouple of days at most.

13. The Solution
• Created in 1983, the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority is a state
agency dedicated to improving the administration of criminal justice.
• Statutory responsibilities of the Authority fit into four areas: grants
administration; research and analysis; policy and planning; and information
systems and technology.

14. The Solution
• ICJIA - Knowing that money is tight at the Cook County Board the Illinois Criminal
Justice Authority, which distributes federal moneys for law enforcement, can be
contacted and a proposal for a grant to hire new attorneys and staff specialized in
gang drug trafficking prosecution.
• Community organizing – In 1990 drawn from four block clubs, CUFS (Citizens
United for Safety) was formed by concerned citizens impacted by narcotics
distribution in their community.
• The committee decided to study the whole network of law enforcement: the local police
station, the state's attorney's office, the central police department's assets-forfeiture unit,
the corporation counsel, and the city's departments of housing and inspectional services.

15. The Solution
• The first meeting of the CUFS task force, a wondrous thing occurred. Dotted
lines were made solid.
• The state's attorney, for instance, said he'd like to go after the owners of
drug houses under nuisance-abatement laws, but his staff didn't have time
to do the title searches. It turned out the Department of Inspectional
Services (DIS) had them on computer.

16. Bittersweet
The CUFS plan is not a silver bullet for the local drug
war, however. True, neighborhood “trap” houses have
been cleaned up--the CUFS plan doesn't work with the
corner drug dealer, who has nothing to fear from the
twin hammers of assets forfeiture and nuisance
abatement.
AldermanAlderman
Ed H. SmithEd H. Smith
IL Attorney GeneralIL Attorney General
Lisa MadiganLisa Madigan

17. Resources
Links – Substance Clinics
• https://www.thewatershed.com/ - The
Watershed
• http://www.advocatehealth.com/body_nonav.
cfm?id=3265&gclid=COeW0-
WF0b0CFeZDMgodgzIAYg – Advocate
Masonic
• http://webtest.catholiccharities.net/services/su
bstance_abuse - Catholic Charities
Links – State/Local Agencies
• Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority