Guest Column
I recently received a call informing me that another young mother, this time age 31, died of a drug overdose.That's two more mothers of children…
I recently received a call informing me that another young mother, this time age 31, died of a drug overdose.
That’s two more mothers of children involved with our local Job and Family Services and Juvenile Court who have died of a drug overdose. They join an unfortunately growing list of young adults in Geauga County who have died using heroin and other unlawful drugs.
The juvenile court also is seeing an increase in heroin use by juveniles.
Access to heroin and fentanyl seems to be getting easier, and this epidemic is infecting Geauga County. While a “task force” is a good start, it is simply not enough. Neither is providing heroin addicts with Naloxone so they can survive today’s drug abuse only to use more heroin tomorrow.
Rather than solving our heroin crisis, Naloxone is like giving a fire extinguisher to a pyromaniac. Naxolone is not the cure for the current heroin epidemic. It may save some lives in the short term, but it will not eliminate or reduce dangerous heroin use and may contribute to more risky, higher level usage.
While local law enforcement is working diligently to take these dangerous, unlawful drugs off the street, it has become obvious the only way to curb this deadly epidemic is:
1. A total communitywide effort to address the underlying societal factors contributing to the increasing demand for these drugs; and
2. An all-out effort to attack the supply of these illegal and dangerous drugs at the source to make access to them much more difficult.
Only through a combination of a decrease in both supply and demand for these deadly drugs can an effective, long term solution be achieved.
Reduce Demand
Education, community awareness and involvement, enhanced interdiction and longer rehabilitation programs are all needed if our county is going to slow down the effects of the current drug epidemic.
To help dissuade children from becoming new addicts, parents must thoroughly educate their children about the dangers of heroin and fentanyl use. We can encourage parents and make resources available to help them do so. Bolstering school anti-drug programs and educating our youth as to the danger of those drugs is also a must.
Funding for better and longer drug rehabilitation programs is also needed for those already addicted. The average length of successful heroin treatment programs is 12 to 18 months. However, most programs in the area provide much shorter treatment times, often on an outpatient basis. Spending tax dollars on inadequate treatment is a waste of money.
The deterioration of our social institutions — family, religion, schools — can be directly linked to the increase in drug use. The generational, progressive increases in the number of disconnected and dysfunctional families, an unfortunate product of a societal emphasis on “me,” have caused children and adults to feel a great void, that they do not belong, and that there isn’t something out there greater than themselves.
So, they look for “fixes” — something to fill the void that the lack of family, religion and community have created in their lives. No government or individual organization can force the improvements necessary in our society to address the problem.
However, we can work together in our respective roles to help society improve itself. We can educate and provide resources for our community. We can reach out to those who may be feeling voids in their lives and connect them with people who can help, hopefully before they turn to drugs. Perhaps over time a communitywide emphasis on the value of family combined with more enlightening discussions about the dangers of specific drugs will begin to reverse the deterioration that has contributed to the growing demand for deadly drugs.
We need our churches, chambers of commerce, rotaries, Kiwanis clubs, parent teacher organizations and other local groups to join in a comprehensive effort to (1) educate and provide resources for the community to self-redirect our youth and young adults onto a more positive and fulfilling life path; (2) enhance and bolster treatment for those already addicted; and (3) encourage residents to report suspicious activities to law enforcement in their communities.
Cutting Supply
Cutting off the supply of these illegal drugs at the source may prove even more difficult, as it requires us to discard political correctness and shed light on truth.
It has been reported that the heroin production rate in Mexico increased six fold between 2007-2011, making Mexico the second largest opium producer in the world. Given the opportunity for profiteering Mexican drug cartels to take advantage of the United States’ porous southern border, and the failure of some local governments to address the illegal aliens within their communities, it is no wonder we are seeing such an upsurge in heroin availability.
When looking at the heroin epidemic, one wonders for whom are so-called “sanctuary” cities providing sanctuary?
Geauga County Commissioners need to provide our sheriff, prosecutor and courts with the funds needed to pursue an all-out effort to stop heroin and fentanyl from being sold within Geauga County’s borders.
A comprehensive, countywide commitment to reducing heroin and other deadly drug use and related deaths is needed.
How many more young mothers will overdose and die, making their children orphans?
How many more children will the county have to take custody of at taxpayers’ expense?
How many more parents will lose their sons and daughters, while drug dealers profit?
When is enough really enough?
Though we may not be able to successfully treat all of today’s drug addicts, we must do everything we can to deter the addicts of tomorrow.
