Recently Governor Hogan was lauded for his recognition that Maryland has a heroin problem. It was also noted that Rt. 301 is a pathway for drug distribution to the Shore. Are we now all clear about the road ahead?
Such simplistic laudatory comments are tiresome. Our country has an ongoing drug problem of major proportions and simplistic statements serve us not at all. We built domestic organized crime with the first prohibition (alcohol) and fueled the development of South American cartels with the second prohibition (marijuana). Given their advanced state, these criminal enterprises have developed a larger line they now market to us.
We have wasted many billions on politically inspired interdiction operations. Our foolish policies have served to destabilized countries that in turn has led to the flight of their citizens who we see coming to our shores. They are known at Latinos, and our response to their desperate search for the future we impaired has been less than impressive.
Drug problems must be addressed by enlightened policy management in our relationship with other countries. Issues also have to be addressed with well formulated national policies which deal with realities not political rhetoric.
The reality of drugs is that they are complex. Each of us has a unique signature of receptors which dictates what drugs we resonate to. Included are nicotine, caffeine, opiates and on and on. Our social background, even our religion, relates to our drug of choice. And in my work with a major drug treatment program I learned how we must attune the recovery process for each individual to the degree possible.
And then there is the matter of prevention. We should have learned something from our battle with tobacco. It has taken decades to bring down the rate of addiction. Addictions are tenacious, and we have never made a truly significant effort with opiates.
We have a great deal of information, and we have not used the body of knowledge at our disposal to develop in-depth campaigns of prevention, wise legal processes or flexible treatment objective. It is clearly time to move out of the self-serving political sphere and get to work on this scourge at all levels. And, by the way, there are corporate entities including tobacco companies and big pharma which are arrayed against effective programs in addition to the criminal enterprises we helped create.
Stephan Sonn says
Sticking to this string is the willingness of thoughtful people and the will of Spy to publish their effort.
Substance abuse is the universal human denial mechanism that protects itself by its very nature. Since it is individually self-generated, addicted society is just a matter of multipliers. Society is the ultimate lynch mob killing its own; Immune to remedy, except by rare will of pathos.
Every vice has its champions especially if there is profit in it. but the dynamics that spawn drunk driver killers and drug rage are inherently human. Remedy is also human, and thereby cobbled by the dynamics of society particularly primed to the task, for lack of common will or friendly mechanism.
So why do people writing here even try. It is because we are human.
joe diamond says
Acknowledging the dinosaur in the living room is a first step.
There was a time when drug problems of all kinds were viewed as the sins of lesser (minority) people. I am saddened to admit there was no official serious drug problem in America until the 60s when drugs began to show up in (white) suburbia. Somehow we acquired a drug czar; a wise (unelected) leader who was / is expected to focus the forces of America against the evils of drugs. The world laughs at that one. The drugs arrive unabated by twenty years of serious efforts.
So if the new Governor needs to gain some political horsepower by pointing out that heroin is a new problem I am OK with it as long as it doesn’t produce another agency. Re tasking the cops to address this detail of the larger problem could be good. Mexico (& the world) has a druggie for a neighbor. Any step to clean up the neighborhood should be allowed a chance.
Well said, Roger!
Joe
Susan Snyder says
S. Sonn- may have described it best. Every single one of us has a Vice. Period.- Call it what you want !
Some find it in Social Media, Shopping, Church, Social Clubs, different society groups, golf, sailing, boating, eating, antiquating,
It’s a vice that gives you an option in everyday life., To do right or wrong..Some venues, like clubs/Bars, allow for alcohol and drug use-and is accepted. (not saying acceptable , happens behind scenes) Nature of the Beast-
Just as is compulsive shopping or needing to get on boat and away from life- All is what as Human’s need to be human.
Like buying Catnip- WHY ? That’ s like like giving Kitty a free High ?? but we want Kitty to have a break from life ?!
unfortunate part of drugs, alcohol, and catnip is the Today’s designer drugs are very addicting and legalizing marijuana will make this worse.
Many other Countries have legalized years ago- but had to Create free Health Care- Where we are today?
Stephan Sonn says
If addiction to anything goes so far as self abuse and harming others in the wake, where is the will to stop?
Are we born without the right DNA or do we just elect to ignore the options?
I Am 74. When I was 32 I gave up social drugs except for moderate enjoyment of wine.,
but I still count among my vices impulse shopping.
It is all a matter of taste, but in this society, everything goes. So it is back to the individual and self-restraint.