MIDDLESBORO — Unlawful Narcotics Investigations, Treatment and Education (UNITE) Executive Director Karen Engle was the guest speaker at this month’s Bell County Chamber of Commerce Soup and Sandwich luncheon, which was held at J. Milton’s restaurant on Thursday afternoon.

Operation UNITE works to relieve communities of illegal drug use through undercover narcotics investigations, and treatment for substance abusers. The program also provides support to families and friends of substance abusers, and educates the public about the dangers of drug use.

Engle first spoke about the expansive approach UNITE takes to fight against the substance abuse problem in eastern Kentucky.

“What you do matters,” said Engle. “If everybody cares enough to step up where your area of expertise is, then it makes a better community and that’s what [UNITE] is all about.”

Engle explained that the work is never finished, and requested that everyone in attendance ask the question: “What more could we do?”

She stated that drug prevention begins with community involvement. She spoke about the continuous efforts UNITE has made to improve communities across eastern Kentucky.

“I think we have come a long way,” said Engle. “I think we have made some progress, but we are still, as you guys know, a long way from declaring any type of victory or success.”

Engle then explained that the goal of Operation UNITE is to educate and motivate individuals by developing and enabling community coalitions to no longer accept local drug culture.

Operation UNITE Community Coalitions operate in order to enforce education and treatment initiatives, while supporting the investigative part of the organization.

According to Engle, the overall goals of a UNITE coalition are to empower communities and to raise awareness in the matter of drug addiction. She explained that coalitions must have multiple strategies in place, and must bring together the various sectors of a local society in order to be successful.

Engle then spoke about the reality of drug abuse, and stressed the importance of law enforcement as part of the UNITE community mission. She claimed that since 2004, Operation UNITE has helped arrest over 3,200 individuals and has observed a 96.9 conviction rate within the legal system. She explained that over 89,000 prescription pills, 23 pounds of cocaine, 11 pounds of meth, and 452 pounds of marijuana have been confiscated during this period of time, which is a total 8.8 million dollars worth of drugs off the streets.

“That is why law enforcement is necessary,” stated Engle. “Those drugs won’t get into the hands of our children.”

Engle then addressed the issue of online pharmacies. She said that these places are allowing people to diagnose themselves, and are carelessly prescribing people large amounts of Hydrocodone, Xanax, and Oxycontin.

“Drug abuse always follows the path of least resistance,” said Engle. “And if you put it out there, people are going to find a way to get to it.”

Engle then spoke about the efforts UNITE has made in the area of treatment. She said that the UNITE organization has invested over 4.2 million dollars into 30 drug courts in eastern Kentucky.

“Eastern Kentucky is the reason the rest of the state got drug courts statewide,” Engle claimed. “I am proud of that. I think that says something, because when UNITE started we only had four drug courts in all 29 counties. And I don’t know if you have ever been to a drug court graduation, but if you haven’t it is a real treat. It is absolutely phenomenal to hear these individuals talk about changing their lives.”

She went on to say that the drug court process is not always successful, because recovery is based upon the individual.

“It’s addiction. There is no silver bullet,” Engle explained. “We need law enforcement. We need treatment. We need education.”

Commonwealth Attorney Karen Greene Blondell responded:

“I very much support drug court,” said Blondell. “Before we started our drug court, we all went to training and I remember commenting to the people that went with us... if we had one person whose life could be affected, then it would be worth it.”

The event was hosted by the Bell County Chamber of Commerce, the SKCTC Small Business Development Center and Eastern Kentucky Jobsight.

Adam Young is a staff writer for the Middlesboro Daily News. Contact him via e-mail at ayoung@middlesborodailynews.com.