Pubdate: Sat, 07 Jul 2001
Source: Wilson Daily Times, The (NC)
Copyright: 2001 Wilson Daily Times
Contact:  http://www.wilsondaily.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1452
Author: Dianne Price Moore

SON IS CASUALTY OF THE DRUG WAR

A Letter To The Editor

When I read the June 19 edition, I couldn't help but be touched by an 
article I read. It was an article my son wrote. I'm very proud of my son 
for writing that letter. It took a lot for him to put it in The Wilson 
Daily Times that he had a drug addiction. I was surprised when I read the 
paper last night because he didn't tell me he was going to put it in there. 
I knew he had a drug problem, but he never admitted it to me. Until I read 
it in the paper.

People, I'm here to tell you I tried to fight the drug war but couldn't. I 
tried to get my son help. I tried to put my son in drug rehabs. I tried to 
get the police to help me. But you know what? No one and nobody would help 
me get my son help. The same people we asked to help us with his drug 
problem said there was nothing they could do because he was older than 18. 
They had no problem putting a man of 23 in prison for doing crimes to get 
drugs. That, I believe, would not have happened if only we had the help 
when we asked for it.

Let me tell you people that the drug war is the hardest thing to fight, 
especially when the odds are against you. When it hits home to these people 
who made these laws, then they will see how hard it is to fight against 
something that is so hard to fight.

As a taxpayer, the $4.66 billion Bush is asking Congress for should be to 
help fight the war on drugs. Then there wouldn't be so many people in prison.

In conclusion, I love you, my son, and we will keep trying to fight this 
drug war. Remember getting over denial is the first step to recovery.

Dianne Price Moore
Stantonsburg
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