Pubdate: Tue, 17 Feb 2015
Source: Philadelphia Daily News (PA)
Copyright: 2015 Philadelphia Newspapers Inc.
Contact: http://www.philly.com/dailynews/about/feedback/
Website: http://www.philly.com/dailynews/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/339
Author: Aloysius Martin

THE ENDLESS WAR

After reading the article about the mother who pursues her addicted 
son in the Kensington area of Philadelphia, my heart breaks for her 
and the families of addicts. Generations of teenagers and young 
adults have found themselves addicted to heroin and/or crack cocaine, 
searching for their next fix in the Kensington section of Philadelphia.

President Nixon announced the War on Drugs a long time ago. This is 
an endless war with only lost lives and fractured families listed as 
causalities. The continuous efforts of arresting buyers and sellers 
of narcotics have historically failed. We now have two, maybe three 
generations of this behavior. Is there a new answer or approach to 
these problems? Is addiction a health problem or is it a combined 
law-enforcement and health problem.

Can we use the same tools against drug addiction that were used 
against smoking addiction? Should the war on drugs involve education 
of pre-K children, starting with "Sesame Street"? Should we censor 
films, songs and celebrities who glorify the use and abuse of 
drug-related behavior? Should we educate parents at birthing classes 
about the dangers of drug abuse?

What do the national experts on health care and addiction have to 
say? What solutions do they have? Are there any other different 
viewpoints or remedies that have not been heard from? Are there 
experts outside the U.S. that have had successful programs against addiction?

Our society needs to act now. Hopefully, we won't have these problems 
three more generations from now.

Aloysius Martin

Philadelphia
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