Someone must deal with steroid abuse, By: Terry O’Neill

April 5, 2007

Charles Keegan's March 22 letter to the editor is one of numerous negative comments that have been aired on District Attorney David Soares' taking the lead in the interstate steroid trafficking investigation. To read these comments is to get the impression that tax dollars paid by residents of Albany County are being swallowed up in some bottomless Florida sinkhole.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Those who complain of this use of county resources should take notice of several important facts.

As the Times Union has reported, steroid abuse is a huge public health problem -- largely affecting young people -- that has been little addressed in this country. A major impediment has been inconsistent state laws penalizing this traffic and the fact that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, like other federal law enforcement agencies, has had its priorities and resources redirected as a consequence of the war on terrorism.

Someone has to step up to the plate, and state, county and municipal law enforcement authorities throughout the nation must forge new habits of cooperation that look beyond their geographical jurisdictions. Clearly, Mr. Soares recognizes this.

It is also noteworthy that since 1984, Article 13-A of New York's Civil Practice Law and Rules has authorized the bringing of civil proceedings seeking forfeiture of the proceeds of a crime. This statute has been little used because law enforcement agencies have heretofore preferred to proceed under the summary federal forfeiture laws.

It is, nonetheless, on the books and available to recover assets in prosecutions under state law. Such recovered assets are used to pay restitution and damages to crime victims, support substance abuse treatment and reimburse and subsidize law enforcement. Now, who could have a problem with that?