We are the parents of a 31 y/o son. He has battled a heroin and opiate addiction for the last 11 years. He has 2 sons ages 9 and 11. Five minutes is not enough time to tell you what this drug has done to not only our son, but our family. We are not alone.
We were here last month about the proposed treatment center on Baltimore St and we come again. Things are no better since last month. In fact they are only getting worse and will continue on the same path.
Last month I told you it was in the schools the recent OD's and deaths of the Spring Mills High school students only prove what we are saying- it's in the schools and the ages are only getting younger.
Meanwhile here we are again our numbers of OD's increasing daily/In fact the numbers were just released ABOUT 257 Overdoses From January to APRIL
Our number of deaths are increasing The report states about 37 heroin related deaths from JANUARY TO APRIL. and the fight continues over the treatment center.
Councilman Knowles also proposed a recovery center and from what we are hearing that too is facing some uphill battles.
Our number of deaths are increasing The report states about 37 heroin related deaths from JANUARY TO APRIL. and the fight continues over the treatment center.
Councilman Knowles also proposed a recovery center and from what we are hearing that too is facing some uphill battles.
Those who say "NOT IN MY BACKYARD" every myth you have ever heard has been debunked in many case studies of other cities all over this country. Even here in West Virginia in the Charleston and Huntington area.
TO THOSE WHO TALK ABOUT PROPERTY VALUES LET ME TELL YOU: They can build all the stores in this town they want and all the houses they want to but in the end who in the world is going to want to come here and raise families with this heroin epidemic in this town?
THEY CAN BUILD IT BUT EVENTUALLY NO ONE WILL COME.
I ask you yet again Please show us your statistics and all of your case studies that prove what you say. Those myths you hear have been disproven and what you are telling us is mostly stereotypical.
TO THOSE WHO TALK ABOUT PROPERTY VALUES LET ME TELL YOU: They can build all the stores in this town they want and all the houses they want to but in the end who in the world is going to want to come here and raise families with this heroin epidemic in this town?
THEY CAN BUILD IT BUT EVENTUALLY NO ONE WILL COME.
The original purchase of the building on Baltimore St is that it was purchased to be a treatment center. It meets all the state requirements and here we are once again- another month has went by and still no place for our own local people to go to get treatment for their addiction.
I am here today to tell those who oppose this that our own sons dealer lives among you just two blocks from the proposed center on Baltimore St. And there are many many more in that area. Would you rather have the dealers in your neighborhood?
Because they are already there.
It is already on your streets and those dealers live among you in that neighborhood. Those abusing are shooting up in their cars and in the parks, and yes in your neighborhood.
So I ask, What is it exactly that you want in your neighborhood?
It is already on your streets and those dealers live among you in that neighborhood. Those abusing are shooting up in their cars and in the parks, and yes in your neighborhood.
So I ask, What is it exactly that you want in your neighborhood?
The addiction to heroin and opiates is an equal opportunity disease. If affects all socioeconomic standards and knows no boundaries. It doesn't care which lives will get taken while our community continues to fight about it. This is not a welfare state problem or one of the poor and less fortunate.
Now not only do our numbers prove the need for this treatment center- this is also rapidly growing into a public health concern due to the diseases associated with IV drug use.
Needles are being disposed everywhere. Parents are finding needles and used condoms in our parks, on the streets, in parking lots and in their backyards.
Everyone is impacted in some way directly or indirectly by this heroin epidemic in our town whether or not you realize it.
Those who use and abuse deserve the same rights as any other person who suffers with a disease. And right now substance abuse is protected under a few: The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, AND Americans with Disabilities Act.
Now not only do our numbers prove the need for this treatment center- this is also rapidly growing into a public health concern due to the diseases associated with IV drug use.
Needles are being disposed everywhere. Parents are finding needles and used condoms in our parks, on the streets, in parking lots and in their backyards.
Everyone is impacted in some way directly or indirectly by this heroin epidemic in our town whether or not you realize it.
Those who say, NOT MY MONEY: I am here today to tell you that FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT ALREADY SPEND $374 BILLION ON Substance abuse, addiction, treatment and prevention. AMAZING HUH?
WITH THE PROBLEM IN THIS COUNTRY WE WONDER JUST WHAT IS THAT MONEY BEING USED FOR?
Something has failed because Clearly it's not being spent on substance abuse, addiction prevention and treatment OTHERWISE WHY DO WE HAVE THIS PROBLEM?
Something has failed because Clearly it's not being spent on substance abuse, addiction prevention and treatment OTHERWISE WHY DO WE HAVE THIS PROBLEM?
Sen Manchin is proposing yet another tax increase to the already questionable monies calling it the lifeboat which would provide another two billion into the kitty pot slush fund. LIFE BOAT? Whose lifeboat? Which lives does he intend to save? When there are billions already
THE reality is of that $374 BILLION DOLLARS only 1.9% of it goes for the substance abuse, addiction, prevention and treatment.
Imagine if they took that figure of $374 BILLION dollars and divided it between all 50 states to use that money for what it is intended? That is a total of $7.48 Million for each state. WHY IS NO ONE QUESTIONING THIS?
WE NEED TO BE ASKING JUST WHERE AND WHAT ALL OF THAT MONEY BEING USED FOR? BECAUSE
WE NEED TO BE ASKING JUST WHERE AND WHAT ALL OF THAT MONEY BEING USED FOR? BECAUSE
MEANWHILE IN THIS COUNTRY 23 million AMERICANs suffer with drug addiction.
11 MILLION of them are between the ages of 12 and 29 years of age.
85 MILLION other Americans are like us- parents, grandparents, sons, daughters, aunts, uncles, cousins, husbands and wives and friends who love someone who suffers with drug addiction
My question is WHAT HAPPENED RIGHT HERE AFTER THE CRACK COCAINE BUST HERE IN 1986?
CRACK and COCAINE never left here, It only moved to other areas in the city and county. SOON AFTER METH moved into the neighborhoods and Communities. For years it was left unchecked and in the late 90's/early 2000 HEROIN moved here and is now taking over our entire county. I worked at a 7-11 here during those early years. It was bad then and has gotten worse.
And here we are in a heroin epidemic in our communities. Heroin will continue to take lives.
CRACK and COCAINE never left here, It only moved to other areas in the city and county. SOON AFTER METH moved into the neighborhoods and Communities. For years it was left unchecked and in the late 90's/early 2000 HEROIN moved here and is now taking over our entire county. I worked at a 7-11 here during those early years. It was bad then and has gotten worse.
And here we are in a heroin epidemic in our communities. Heroin will continue to take lives.
We already have the day center and the drug court- they are the second step in the recovery process. Why not have the first step right here for our own local people.
What if you had a disease and the place that could cure you of your disease was being fought over like what is being done with this treatment center. How would you feel?
I have an idea why not make those trafficking that poison here into our communities- you know those on the high end profit scale make them pay for our treatment center. They want to come here and poison our town and take our young people then they should pay for those who want to get better.
While this fight continues we on this side really wonder because we all know whenever there is a huge problem in this country it isn't about who suffers the most. It is about who stands to lose the most profit should the problem go away. WE NOW WONDER IS THAT THE REAL PROBLEM HERE IN OUR TOWN?
I did not come here to once again read our petition. I do come here to turn it in and to leave you with a quote by the late Rev Martin Luther King, Jr. He once said,
NOTHING IN ALL THIS WORLD IS MORE DANGEROUS THAN SINCERE IGNORANCE AND CONSCIENTOUS STUPIDITY
This Is The Reality Already: In this country...
4,365 kids between the ages of 12 and 17 already use and abuse some form of illicit drug daily
2,466 kids between the ages of 12 and 17 already use and abuse heroin, opiates and pain pills daily
7,540 kids between the ages of 12 and 17 will try heroin, opiates, pain pills or another illicit drug for the first time TODAY
This Is The Reality Already: In this country...
4,365 kids between the ages of 12 and 17 already use and abuse some form of illicit drug daily
2,466 kids between the ages of 12 and 17 already use and abuse heroin, opiates and pain pills daily
7,540 kids between the ages of 12 and 17 will try heroin, opiates, pain pills or another illicit drug for the first time TODAY
No comments:
Post a Comment