Notably absent from the White House’s High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area is Butler County.

This week our neighbor to the west, Lawrence County, was added to the list joining Allegheny, Beaver, Washington, Westmoreland and Erie counties.

There is good and bad, which goes with or without that designation. It shows that while we still have a fight on our hands; we appear to be doing a better job than neighboring counties on the nonstop fight against drugs.

The stories which frequently make the rounds about Butler High School being “Heroin High” and that because of our proximity to Interstate 79 and Interstate 80 we are at crossroads of all the world’s drug problems are just nonsense. Drug trafficking is everywhere and will not be going away.

It is up to law enforcement — led by the drug task force, as well as the Pennsylvania State Police, the Butler County Sheriff’s office, and local law enforcement — to maintain control as best they can on the issue.

We applaud their efforts that keep Butler County off the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area list.

The downside? If you make the list, you receive additional funds to use to fight the battle.

The statement from the U.S. Attorney’s office stated that Lawrence County is being used as a large-scale distribution center by drug traffickers. Now the additional funds could help eradicate the severe problems or possibly push them eastward into our area.

We see this as red flag for our previously mentioned warriors against the drug problem and all the other crimes that follow drugs.

The people of Butler County need to remain diligent and keep law enforcement aware when they see something wrong in the neighborhood. The more eyes on the problem the less likely that the bad guys are to set up shop in our communities.

Don’t be fooled; we have a drug problem in Butler County. But, giving credit where credit is due — not getting on the White House list currently is a positive note that we are fighting a good battle. Keep it up.

— RV