NEW YORK.- White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Gil Kerlikowske, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr, DEA special agent Wilbert L. Plummer, investigators politicians, specialists, community leaders and activists gathered Monday in a Washington Heights (Upper Manhattan) town hall meeting, where the officials disclosed new strategies to halt the high drug use in the mostly Dominican neighborhood.

Hundreds of people participated in the debate in which Vance affirmed that an important reduction in the use of drugs such as cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, marijuana and others has been accomplished, but noted that it still isn’t enough and requested the community’s support to keep youngsters away from the vice.

Kerlikowske said Upper Manhattan is a shining example of how law enforcement agencies, public health officials and the community can join to transform a place infested by drugs into one where families, youngsters and organizations can prosper.

He said the abuse of prescription medicine is also on the rise, mostly by young people, who can easily obtain the drugs in medicine cabinets of relatives and friendly. “Although we should celebrate this great success, we must also maintain an eye on that situation.”

Kerlikowske added that drug abuse is among the country’s fastest growing problem, which no only affects the Dominican community. “The data show that 70% of the people who abuse those medications acquire them easily. That’s why the community will have to correctly dispose of those undesired prescription medicines and that’s more important than never.”