Astoria and Clatsop County are a challenge for drug and alcohol treatment specialists, That is one reason why a succession of substance abuse treatment organizations have come and gone.

LifeWorks Northwest is demonstrating staying power through its deep comprehension of the pathology of alcohol and drugs in Clatsop County. United Way wisely has added LifeWorks Northwest (LFN) to its list of agencies that will benefit from its annual giving campaign.

Joe Gamm’s front-page article of Nov. 23 described LFN’s holistic approach to substance abuse. Its programs are directed at underage drinking, parenting, law enforcement and the community.

The county’s law enforcement establishment offers a mixed response when it comes to drugs and alcoholism. Drug court, sponsored by circuit court judges Phil Nelson and Paula Brownhill is a tremendous asset. The city of Astoria, however, sends a mixed message. While the Astoria City Council makes prevention of underage drinking a goal, the Astoria Municipal Court is tainted by lax prosecution of drunken driving cases.

One of the most striking developments of 2007 has been Astoria Mayor Willis Van Dusen’s reckoning with his own alcohol issues. Following a traffic accident, the mayor went to a treatment center. He subsequently spoke to graduates of a substance abuse program about the value of reckoning with their own problems.

Treatment lies at the heart of any strategy aimed at alcoholism and drug abuse. That’s why it’s heartening to see LifeWorks Northwest making a go of it.