"We don't feel the war analogy is necessarily appropriate," said Sen. Duane Grimes, R-Clancy, who headed the group. "We don't have enough resources or manpower to do it. Law enforcement support alone will never solve the problem."

Among their recommendations: establish a department-level drug czar to oversee funding and policy; pay for two drug and alcohol treatment facilities; stiffen underage drinking laws; and change the legal definition of drunk.

Gov. Judy Martz and Attorney General Mike McGrath, who commissioned the report, said they were pleased by the group's recommendations. But both also said it will be tough to fund. "It's going to be very difficult," McGrath said. "But it costs $20,000 to keep someone in prison for a year. That's a pretty expensive alternative."

Grimes acknowledged that a "drug war" is easier to sell to the public than treatment and prevention, but pointed out that the iron-fist approach to drugs and alcohol not only doesn't really stop the problem, but is also much more expensive.

"We have to spend money on treatment so we don't have to build any more Shelby's," he said, referring to the state's new privately run prison.