Pubdate: Sat, 07 May 2016 Source: Imperial Valley Press (CA) Copyright: 2016 Imperial Valley Press Contact: http://www.ivpressonline.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1877 Author: Don Gorham WORKING TO SOLVE DRUG ABUSE From "Increase in Drug and Opioid Overdose Deaths - United States, 2000-2014" by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: "The United States is experiencing an epidemic of drug overdose (poisonings) deaths since 2000, the rate of deaths from drug overdoses has increased 137 percent including a 200 percent increase in the rate of overdose deaths involving opioids (opioid pain relievers and heroin). ... More persons died from drug overdoses in the United States in 2014 than during any previous year on record." Overdose deaths in Imperial Valley for 2015 is confirmed 36 by the Coroner's office. It may not seem like a lot although if one of those overdoses was your family member or a loved one, then that number becomes significant. That's one preventable death every 10 days. Wow. The bottom line is that we are losing the war on drugs. They say it takes a village to raise a child. Well, it takes a community to solve this drug problem. Trust me when I saw that every family in this Valley knows someone that has an alcohol and/or a drug problem. I believe part of the solution is K-12 education. The system needs to look at this problem differently - get out of the boxes, so to speak. Next: more community awareness, public forums, focus groups, etc. I believe the county is doing a good job although we need to stay proactive and keep moving forward. I compare these programs to a banquet table: the more services on the banquet table, the better chance we have in helping those in need. The key to eliminating alcohol and drug abuse in our community is to take away the demand. No demand and the drug dealer is out of business. Wow, again, what a concept. Will this solve the problem? Not sure, although I believe it will help. DON GORHAM Calexico - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom