Promoting a Drug-Free Neighborhood

All across America, once-clean neighborhoods are becoming invaded by drug dealers and those who do drugs. The houses where drugs are originating are sometimes difficult to identify, and reporting someone for drugs is a serious issue -- you need to be sure. However, families are growing tired of drugs in their neighborhoods, and many people are starting to speak out. Following are tips for promoting a drug-free neighborhood.

Promoting a Drug-Free Neighborhood: Form a Neighborhood Watch

There is nothing wrong with patrolling your neighborhood for illegal activity and setting up a support system for the families in your neighborhood. A neighborhood watch programs allows civilians to remain in direct contact with law enforcement to report illegal or suspect activity. Talk with the other families in your neighborhood to discuss setting up such a program and invite a local police officer to attend meetings and advice family members. Every night, you can appoint someone to be on the look-out in your neighborhood. The Watch Person can record license plates of unfamiliar vehicles and can look for signs of burglary. You might want to establish a Watch Person only for the weekends.

Promoting a Drug-Free Neighborhood: Build Relationships with Police Officers

Often, there is a handful of police officers who routinely patrol certain neighborhoods. There will be three shifts of cops who work your area -- morning, evening and night -- so you should take it upon yourself to learn which officers are on duty at which times. Talk with them on a regular basis and let them know about any suspicious activity. If you know the officers well, you can report a problem without filing an official police report. Giving them the heads-up for drug activity in your neighborhood will allow them to streamline their jobs and avoid wasting times on areas where things appear to be safe.

Promoting a Drug-Free Neighborhood: Form Children's Programs

One of the main causes of drug infestation is children and teenagers who have picked up the habit. When teenagers are flooding neighborhoods with drugs, the rest of the children as well as the adults are in danger. To battle this, set up programs for children in your neighborhood such as pool parties, block parties, sports teams and even a community theater program. Keeping kids away from drugs in and involved in healthy activities will cut down significantly on drug problems.

Promoting a Drug-Free Neighborhood: Talk with Public Works

Ever city has a public works department that is responsible for getting rid of graffiti, putting up street lights and otherwise making neighborhoods safe. Put together a petition for more street lamps to illuminate your neighborhood and for graffiti on homes and buildings to be cleaned up. Even the cleanest communities can still harbor drug dealers, but they won't gravitate to your neighborhood if everything is clean and safe.

Promoting a Drug-Free Neighborhood: Advertise Anti-Drug Policies

In addition to putting up "Neighborhood Watch" signs (you know, the ones with the big eyeball), you can also put up signs that advertise anti-drug policies in your neighborhood. In your newsletter, let everyone know that drug activity will not be tolerated and that everyone is encouraged to "blow the whistle" on a home or person who is known to participate in drugs. The more people know that you are anti-drug, the fewer drug dealers your neighborhood will attract.