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PHARR, Texas - Hidalgo County District Attorney candidate Terry Palacios has spoken about the need to get more help to young drug addicts in the Rio Grande Valley.

Palacios gave an in-depth interview to the Rio Grande Guardian about the initiatives he wants to see introduced at the DA\\u2019s office. They include the creation of specialized units for major crimes and white collar crimes, and a public corruption unit.

\\u201cMeth is getting worse. We never used to hear of meth. Now we have it all over our streets. We have got to start working with these kids to get them actual rehab instead of just putting them in jail. We need to work with those kids,\\u201d Palacios said.Palacios said the drugs problem hits close to home for him because he has a son that had to stay in a rehab and detox center in Kerrville, Texas.

\\u201cWhat happens to the people that don\\u2019t have insurance and can\\u2019t send their kids? We need something in here, in our Valley, where we have the issue. Only the privileged are getting help,\\u201d Palacios said.

\\u201cWe need something like this for our underprivileged kids. Something local, like a detox center, then after your detox center a sobriety house where you actually house them. Make them feel like they are worth something. Those are programs I want to target.\\u201d

Editor's Note: To read the full story go to the Rio Grande Guardian website.

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