The beginning of a long, hot summer has, to say the least, been oppressive and extremely hot. The exhausting weather seems to mirror the drained progression of positive drive in my spirit. I am weakened in my efforts to promote the far-reaching needs and seemingly lost call to rally masses to a cause. At every turn, new roadblocks cross the paths of my understanding. Believe me, the roads to needed change go on forever and in many, many directions. No one solution will change our problems.I have tried to keep one diligent ear open to opportunities to promote efficiency and the other ear open to efforts to thwart our progress. All information I have heard is not credible, usable information; however, many wonderful ideas have sprung from investigations and actual research. So, I have judged what I consider to be some necessities that must be addressed to begin to further the cause of stopping drug abuse in Scioto County.
I would never claim to be something other than a source of opinion, but I think some ink must be given to obvious needs and dutiful actions. I have discussed these issues with many area citizens, and I think change will occur much quicker if these steps are taken by the populace. I wonder if the citizens have both the desire and the energy to make these steps into realities?
Here is a list of some (in my judgment) of the most needed improvements we should take to build a base of important change:
1. We must provide action to support programs such as Neighborhood Watch to stem the steady flow of drug-related crime.
2. We must call tip lines and take initiative for helping all of our law enforcement officers arrest dealers.
3. We must demand that all school administrators and superintendents attend Scioto County Rx Drug Action Task Force Meetings.
4. We must attend local school board meetings and demand that new, updated drug education programs be a part of our schools' (elementary, junior high, and high school) curriculum now.
5. We must elect officials who will make the epidemic of overdose death the NUMBER ONE priority in our county.
6. We must make applications and receive new State and Federal grants to upgrade our drug-fighting capabilities.
7. We must finally realize that drug-abuse is tied to crime, unemployment, work conditions, high rates of migration after graduation, high rates of welfare, poor housing, and record-setting accidental death rates in our area -- then we must resist it at all of these points.
8. This fall, we must be sure the proposed pill mill legislation in Columbus will have "teeth" and serve as a tremendous beginning to changing laws - Northern Ohio does not have the same problem as Appalachia and we need to make that known.
9. Playing the underdog, we must flood the press and the airwaves with information and news about our undeterred efforts to find relief in all areas of drug-related concern.
My proposed solutions offer a beginning to change, certainly not a complete working model. Again and again, I have said we must motivate the masses to achieve any efficiency in our efforts. Pushing the envelope of activism is the first criteria for change. Many in our area are ham-stringed by relationships and old customs. "Old boy" and "Owe me one partisanship" should turn to justice and fair play. We need you, brothers and sisters of the area, and we need you now.
"I think if the people of this country can be reached with the truth, their judgment will be in favor of the many, as against the privileged few." --Eleanor Roosevelt
3 comments:
Not one suggestion for providing effective affordable treatment options for those who are trapped in a life of addiction? I think this is a mandatory component if you want to get control over this problem.
You must stop the bleeding before you can treat the wound/wounded. It can be simultaneously but the bleeding needs stopped, NOW!! Address the root cause/causes of the problem and you'll turn the tide. Problem is, too many folks want to plead ignorance to their surroundings instead of raising holy hell to affect change!!
I love this country but we can be some sorry, selfish, lazy ass people when we want!!
Why not focus your energy and attention on REFORM there Frank-o. Reform of our failed drug policies, reform of our criminal justice system, becoming proative and thus reforming the growing poverty crisis in this nation, which discriminately affects minorities, whom coincidingly resort to illegal drug activity in leiu of employment opportunities, which concurrently results in their discriminate filtration through our failed criminal justice system. It's a domino effect Frank-o, and you are doing a disservice to yourself by focusing your concerns solely on a local level. S. Ohio does not exist within a bubble. There are many cause and effect situtations that contribute to where your concern lies, and your efforts are in vain without first acknowledging and thus educating yourself and others on them, and then working also on large-scale reform. IMO, marijuana, as an illegal drug, has been a monumental failure and astronomical waste of money. Research on the fact will inform you that mj prohibition was nothing short of corporate monopolistic strategy invoving dupont. Predating prohibition marijuana was widely used in pharma medication, and we see states again beginning to understand the medical properties of THC. Full legalization and taxation, no different that cigs and alcohol, would provide much needed state relief, save the feds tons in wasted criminality costs, and the versitility of the hemp plant would economically surge numerous industries. The issue with pharmaceutical drugs is also being managed horribly. The pharma industry systematically orchestrated what has become a "street" epidemic. With its for-profit properties, pharma companies advantagously pushed docs to prescribe their meds via incentives, creating a climate of dependency to stricken patients so that pockets can continue being filled by those on top. Over-prescribing led to street sales. Now both patients and doctors are being villified while the source of the problem sits fat and pretty, and legitimate patients are forced to endure a living hell as their daily normalcy because doctors are scared to prescibe to anyone.
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