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MONTGOMERY COUNTY

BY THE COUNTY COUNCIL AND BOARD OF EDUCATION, AS
FOLLOWS:

(A)   THERE HAS BEEN A GREAT BENEFIT TO THE HUMAN
RACE THROUGH THE PROGRESSIVE AND CONTINUING RESEARCH,
DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF DRUGS FOR LEGITIMATE MEDICAL
AND SCIENTIFIC PURPOSES, WHICH DRUGS HAVE LESSENED
HUMAN SUFFERING, AND CONTRIBUTED MAGNIFICENTLY TO
INCREASING GOOD HEALTH AND LONG LIFE.

(B)     THE ILLEGAL MANUFACTURE, DISTRIBUTION,
POSSESSION, AND MISUSE OF DRUGS AND CONTROLLED
DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES HAVE LED TO HUMAN SUFFERING AND
SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC LOSS AND ARE HAVING A SUBSTANTIAL
AND INCREASING DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON THE HEALTH AND
GENERAL WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY AND
OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

(C)   THE MISUSE OF DRUGS BEGAN TO INCREASE IN THE
COUNTY IN 1966 AND HAS CONTINUED TO INCREASE EACH
YEAR. THE INCREASE IN MISUSE OF DRUGS AND CONTROLLED
DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES, WHILE AFFECTING ALL AGE GROUPS,
HAS GREATLY AFFECTED YOUNG PERSONS OF AGE 25 AND
UNDER. MANY COMMUNITY GROUPS BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE
SUBSTANTIAL DRUG-RELATED PROBLEMS IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY
AND THAT THERE IS A GROWING TENDENCY TOWARD THE USE OF
THE MOST DANGEROUS DRUGS, INCLUDING COCAINE AND
HEROIN.

(D)   EVEN THOUGH THERE HAS BEEN A GROWING COST TO
THE PEOPLE OF THE COUNTY AND STATE FOR POLICE,
JUDICIAL, PENAL AND MEDICAL CARE PURPOSES, DIRECTLY
AND INDIRECTLY CAUSED BY DRUG ABUSE, THE FACILITIES
WITHIN THE COUNTY AND IN THE STATE FOR PERSONS
AFFLICTED WITH DRUG ABUSE PROBLEMS BOTH PHYSICALLY AND
PSYCHOLOGICALLY ARE GROSSLY INADEQUATE.

(E)   THE MISUSE AND ABUSE OF DRUGS AND CONTROLLED
DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES MUST BE DISCOURAGED AND
ELIMINATED.

(F)     THERE IS NEEDED IN THE COUNTY A
COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ACTION TO
PROTECT AND PROMOTE THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF THE
CITIZENS OF THE COUNTY. THE PROGRAM SHALL BE
UNDERTAKEN IN COOPERATION WITH THE STATE AND FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND FURTHER IN COORDINATION AND IN
COOPERATION WITH LOCAL PRIVATE COMMUNITY GROUPS AND
OTHER PRIVATE GROUPS THROUGHOUT THE METROPOLITAN
WASHINGTON AREA. SUCH A PROGRAM MUST INCLUDE