LETTERS; PERSONAL EXPERIENCE REFUTES CRIME STORY.

An article read that crime had been down in the Lancaster-Palmdale area during 1999. I live in Lake Los Angeles. I have been burglarized twice in six months.

The first time the sheriffs did not even show up to take a report. The thieves actually moved into my home, as I was in the process of moving in from Downey.

No fingerprints were taken on either occasion. Critical information was not kept on the first break-in. It was a month before the case was assigned to a detective. Their excuse was they had more important cases to work.

There have been several break-ins in our area by these same thieves. We are told that these burglaries are not investigable, and not to expect anything to be done.

Please do not tell me that fewer crimes are committed, because I have to ask how do we know that these law-enforcement officers just don't take reports or show up to crime scenes. They did not show up the first time for me.

- David Whitworth

Lake Los Angeles

DRUG PROGRAMS NEEDED

Congratulations on scooping other Los Angeles County media on ``Teen drug program OK'd: County allocates funds for new health service.''

The Antelope Valley's Service Planning Area 1, one of eight county SPAs, will receive its fair-share, needs-based allocation in this unprecedented program.

And while there is presently no publicly funded adolescent or even adult detoxification center in the Antelope Valley, one will probably be established elsewhere for use for local 13- to 17-year-old youths in need of such.

About $3.5 million will be available to fund nonresidential alcohol and other drug intervention, treatment and recovery services countywide. Additionally, $2.4 million will also be available to fund short-term and long-term residential treatment services countywide for the period May 1, 2000, through June 30, 2002.

Moreover, the services implemented by this request for proposals are aimed as a first phase in setting up a countywide system of intervention, treatment and recovery services for adolescents.

The Alcohol and Drug Program Administration, the county office that my commission advises along with the Board of Supervisors, intends to commit additional funds for further expansion of services to this targeted population in coming years.

According to recent surveys of Los Angeles County school-age youths, this group was at a greater risk of alcohol and other drug problems than the national youth population. Sadly, African-American and Latino youths generally showed the greatest relative need for these health services. And consistent with the intent of the legislation establishing the adolescent treatment services program, priority will be given to programs addressing the culturally and linguistically specific service needs of African-American and Latino youths and their families, though all adolescents can access these services equally.

- Ray Chavira

Member, Los Angeles County Commission on Alcoholism