HEADLINE: BC Teacher Aide Arrested

A story came out this week and is being shared all over social media about the teacher's aide who was arrested at the school she worked. Not only was she high on the job but she was also charged with possession while in the school.

Berkeley County, W.Va., Teacher Aide Charged With Possession of a Controlled Substance

I would like to thank the journalist who reported this story fairly and accurately. I read the Herald-Mail now because our own local paper really doesn't report a lot of local news. If you are a criminal or charged with a drug violation they have an entire section of the paper dedicated to the listing of the charges. Not many stories follow, just listings of names and a few times after hearings. 

Sometimes there is an occasional story about those charged and sentenced for crimes relating to drug dealing. I often wonder what is wrong with a system that the drug dealers often get no or little time sentence for drug dealing, but those who commit crimes due to their addiction are given maximum sentences.

I personally have so many mixed emotions since this news came out. As a grandparent, I am angry because one of my grandkids goes to that school. It just proves what I have said all along, drugs are in the school system and not just at the student level.

As a mother of addicts- clean today, struggling daily, my heart goes out to that person and her family because as I've said so many times, heroin and addiction do not discriminate. This story just like many others of professionals proves it doesn't matter who you are or what profession you have, so many people struggle with addiction to heroin.

I am also angry that this proves that apparently, teachers and BOE workers are not being drug tested. 

Honestly (and in my opinion) this answers so many questions and proves that testing needs to be done each year before the start of the school year and randomly throughout the year. 

I think all state workers, not just a selected few need to be drug tested especially if their paychecks are coming from taxpayer money in the state.

I also think this needs to be done as high as the government level- governor, senators, and representatives- and right on down the chain to all of those in any state paying jobs.

I hope that the person accused will receive drug counseling and help.

The story reported by Matthew Umstead @ Herald-Mail

© 2018 Gossip Girl

A Reality of Heroin, Addiction and It's Abuse Is

Last night I found a piece of a post I had started working on back in January and have added to it. It's official I guess. I'm back with this piece.

It was announced recently that heroin and opioid abuse is now the #1 leading cause of death in the United States for persons age 50 and under. This epidemic has surpassed heart disease, diabetes and cancer as the leading cause of death in this country.

The reality is that heroin and it's abuse is preventable and is treatable.

IF everyone can get on the same page.

We are learning that aside from all of the new information that it is affecting every company.  Companies are realizing just how much this has affected their workplace where drug-related injuries have skyrocketed and caused companies billions of dollars in workers compensation.  Companies are experiencing the trend that overdosing on the job seems to be the norm these days.

 It disrupts the daily workflow which can also cost companies a lot of money.

Last week I posted that I am once again working on a few pieces for this blog. I have been contacted by quite a few people. I hadn't realized how much some missed reading here.

While I am working on a few posts coming soon, I thought I would share that we on this side of loving someone with this addiction have always said that addiction to heroin and opioid addiction doesn't discriminate.

Heroin doesn't care if you are rich or poor, it affects both the same.

Heroin does not care if you were prom king or queen, very popular at school, or football jock, or the quiet shy person in school who had few friends.

Heroin doesn't care about your job. It doesn't care if you are a construction worker, banker, CEO police officer, politician or pastor.

Heroin doesn't care that you attend church every Sunday.

Heroin does not care how you vote at the polls. It is neither democrat or republican or any other political party one may be affiliated with.

Heroin does heroin care which gender or race you are.

Heroin is killing everyone and destroying lives. It is tearing at the very threads of the American family and the values of every family in this country alike; rich or poor and young and old.

Sometimes when asked where I stand my response is simple,

I stand on shaky ground where heroin and addiction are concerned. 

If you want to be a part of my blog I certainly welcome all. If you don't wish to, I understand that as well.

© 2018 Gossip Girl

City of Martinsburg Defers Funds for Treatment Program

In case anyone is wondering what our city council thinks about a treatment center here a story is out today by our local newspaper.

City Defers Funds for Treatment Program

“I personally would like to see that thing put on hold until we see our upcoming (city) balance in July or August, and then we’ll revisit this thing instead of jumping into it right now,” said Councilman Mark Baker.

Read more>>>> @ The Journal-Martinsburg

Story by: The Journal

Recovering heroin addict: "They call Martinsburg 'Little Baltimore'"...

Many of us here in Martinsburg and Berkeley County have expressed the need for a long-term, dual diagnostic drug treatment center here in Berkeley County and/or Martinsburg, WV especially when it was announced the same year as this video came out about the building at 750 Baltimore St.

I believe after the statement on this video by officials here, there was never any intention whatsoever for the building at 750 Baltimore St

The Rising Cost of This Heroin Epidemic

In a few days, we will be midway through the month of March. This year alone we have watched as the number of overdoses have more than doubled since this time last year and the number of those dying from this addiction have grown.

While we wait for the latest numbers to be released by the Recovery Resource Coordinator, Kevin Knowles we continue to watch as the rising cost of this heroin epidemic here is being paid at a high price, with human lives. 

Those who are affected by this are growing in numbers. The ages of those trying this drug for the first time for whatever reason are getting younger. 

Recently announced is the news that the indigent funeral fund for this state is defunct. It is only March and the $2 million allotted for poor families is gone.

Martinsburg, WV and Berkeley County, WV had three decades to prepare for this after the Crack Cocaine bust of the Hill in 1986 and our local law enforcement seemed to many of us living here to have gone to sleep after the celebrations and the parades. 

Crack Cocaine never left here. It only moved to the rural areas. Soon after meth moved in and for a time complaints of rising cook houses which probably still exist in the county. While all of this was left unattended for years heroin didn't sneak here into our communities. 

No, it marched in with waving flags starting for some as addiction to painkillers; to others, they walked straight into the needle. For many years heroin dealing was out in the open public. At least the dealers never tried to hide it in the parking lot of the convenience store I worked in.

I was pretty naive when I first went to work there. I had no idea just how bad it was. To those of us who worked there we were shocked that although we complained, it seemed allowed to continue. Who knew that in only a few years after first starting work there that one of our sons would try heroin. Now, our family is just a statistic of the numbers who still battle with this addiction.

Just how many more lives have to suffer in this addiction? How many more lives will be lost to this addiction? How many more children will lose their parents? How many families will have to bury their loved ones? 

NOTE: This post in no way means that I am knocking down our law enforcement, or officers. I've met many of them and we have some very good caring officers here in Martinsburg and Berkeley County. 

Story Info from: 

The Rising Cost of the Heroin Epidemic

WV Funeral Fund Depleted

pic from memegenerator

© 2017 Gossip Girl

The Politics of Addiction: Martinsburg Zoning Appeals Grants

Mr. James Boyd of Martinsburg who advocates for change with his message of #staystopped here in Martinsburg, WV and in Berkeley County is one of our strongest voices in this fight between our city and county leaders and those of us who say, We need a treatment here.

Thank you, Mr. Boyd, for always looking out for those suffering this addiction and for the families still struggling here in the panhandle. We who live here know that the detox is an important step in recovery.

We are concerned because there are only 144 beds in the state available each day at recovery centers statewide with a window of only a few hours to fill the bed. This detox will help, but after detox, a small window is opened to get them to a program. Three things can only happen:

A person will either go out on the street to repeat the cycle
If they are lucky a bed somewhere will open for them in a 30 Day Program, or they will die to wait on a bed to become available to them.
We have to stop treating this as a lottery system here. All Lives Matter in this suffering. The support for a treatment center here in Berkeley County continues growing. Thank you! And Thank you for sharing this petition.

For many of us, this town's leaders are acting very confused about this issue. They have granted approval for the stripper pole clubs to open back up in operation, yet refuse to look at the whole picture that those stripper clubs are the problem in this epidemic.

Meanwhile in this town, the overdose numbers continue growing and the number of those losing the battle with this addiction continue growing.

Info From The Journal-Martinsburg

© 2017 Gossip Girl

Medical Marijuana Bill Shot Down in WV

There is a story out today, Medical Marijuana Bill Shot Down in WV. People across the state I'm sure will be losing their minds when the story reads,

"The amendment called for re-classifying marijuana in state guidelines as a Schedule IV drug: a non-narcotic drug with low potential for abuse. “It allows for the prescription of medical cannabis,” he said.

Currently, both state and federal law classify marijuana Schedule I drug, a category that also includes drugs such as heroin."

You may remember from my post the other day called, Marijuana X: It's not your old school pot that I mentioned that the US Gov holds the patent on Marijuana and that the DEA still has it classified as a Schedule One drug.

Now, this statement made by Delegate Shawn Fluharty D-Ohio has me really scratching my head.

“It’s a shame that legislators are putting politics above the health of our residents,” Fluharty said after voting against the amendment, co-sponsored by Delegate Isaac Sponaugle, D-Pendleton.

“This amendment would have allowed doctors to be doctors, and prescribe medicinal cannabis if they thought it was proper for their patients,” Fluharty said.

All they are asking is that the DEA change the scheduling of cannabis. This statement is the kind that has some of us wondering what this is really about. Wasn't it the huge pharma, politicians, and doctors made the most money off of the opioid crisis in this country for many years? 

Would the change of the scheduling of cannabis mean that the DEA cannot make huge profits off of marijuana seizures in this country in the states who have not legalized?

Who stands to lose the most profits in a reclassification of cannabis? 

Everyone thinks that this bill would have allowed for citizens to grow it in their yards. I'm not so sure. The State of Maryland is asking for "legal growers" to apply for jobs. Remember the US holds the patent on it. They will tell you what can and cannot be grown and where, when and how.

People are still being arrested in WV on marijuana charges when it years ago was said to be a misdemeanor offense to be in possession. Why do they continue to fill our regional jails up with those misdemeanors? 

If you are wondering why they won't reclassify pot, read the link to Here is why the DEA will not reclassify marijuana..

Sorry folks! I keep saying that there will always be a Catch-22. Many thanks to those in office in WV who see things for what they are and ask more questions. We of those affected by this opioid and heroin epidemic need some clarification on exactly what this bill is? Many of us can only look at the future generations of West Virginia. We've already seen what this heroin epidemic has done to families. West Virginia doesn't need a flawed bill on top of the opioid problem.
Story by: Wheeling-News Register
Remember also:
NIH DrugFacts: Synthetic Cannabis
Synthetic Cannabis- Wiki Remember synthetic cannabis compounds are illegal, yet in Colorado, that is what is being hailed as medicinal marijuana.
Why the DEA will not reclassify marijuana
© 2017 Gossip Girl

Drug Use and Politicians

We on this side of the addiction battle lines know that the disease of addiction affects many walks of life- rich or poor. If we continue doing nothing this disease will affect those who haven't even made it here yet.

We have a lot of work to do in awareness to this disease.

The disease of addiction doesn't care who is democrat or republican nor does it care how you vote. It can affect anyone. Yes, even those in the political spotlight.

We hope that those in the politics who have a problem will get help. Especially those who

2016 Presidential Candidates Speak Out On Drugs

On Friday January 20th another inauguration will be held. I had a moment to reflect over the past couple of years on the campaign trail about the heroin epidemic in our country and those who were running for the office of

Press Release from the US Surgeon General on the Prescription Drug Epidemic

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 25, 2016

Contact: ASH Media Office
202-205-0143
ashmedia@hhs.gov

United States Surgeon General appeals to America’s clinicians to “Turn the Tide” on the prescription drug epidemic

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a historic first, the U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy has sent a letter to 2.3 million American health professionals, asking them to lead a national movement to turn the tide on the nation’s prescription opioid epidemic.
“I know solving this problem will not be easy,” Dr. Murthy writes. “We often struggle to balance reducing our patients’ pain with increasing their risk of addiction. But, as clinicians, we have the unique power to help end this epidemic.”
The Surgeon General urged clinicians to visit a website his office launched this month, TurnTheTideRx.org, where they can pledge their commitment to combating opioid misuse by enhancing education for treating pain, by screening patients for opioid use disorder, and by leading a shift in the public perception of addiction so that it is treated as chronic illness rather than as a moral failing. This effort builds upon the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Opioid Initiative focused on tackling the nation’s opioid epidemic, as well as the National Pain Strategy, the federal government’s first coordinated plan to reduce the burden of chronic pain in the U.S.
In the letter, Dr. Murthy points out that nearly 20 years ago the medical community was encouraged to be more aggressive about treating pain. As the number of prescriptions for opioid pain relievers increased, so did the number of deaths from opioid overdose. In 2014 alone, there were nearly 240 million prescriptions dispensed for opioids. In the same year, more than 14,000 people died from overdose of those drugs.
The letter, which was mailed this week, also contains a pocket card outlining the CDC’s opioid prescribing guidelines. This marks the first time that a U.S. Surgeon General has sent a letter directly to the nation’s health professionals seeking their support in addressing a public health crisis. Since April, Dr. Murthy has been visiting American communities hardest hit by the opioid epidemic, talking to health professionals, community leaders and people who have recovered from opioid use disorder. And later this year he will release the first-ever Surgeon General’s report on alcohol, drugs and health.

This news release is from the:  hhs. gov website

WV Attorney General Continues To Fight Substance Abuse in West Virginia

West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey has been behind the front lines fighting and combatting West Virginia's huge opioid problem. To understand how West Virginia even got to this place you must look back to WV and OxyContin Express

WV AG Patrick Morrisey first went after, fought in court and won a large settlement against large pharmaceutical companies here in West Virginia.

WV Attorney General Patrick Morrisey says:

Drug Free America?

We scream and yell how much street drugs should not be legal that we forget

They already are legal....

when prescribed by doctors being pushed by huge pharma companies!!!

pic from: Drugs Are Illegal. Talking About Them Isn't

Are They Playing Politics With This Heroin Epidemic?

Oh you betcha they do and have for many years now. The sad reality is that the War on Drugs isn't working and hasn't worked for many years. People will continue to die from overdose. On this side of the addiction there are so many who want something to happen, yet do not want to be a voice for advocacy in change.

David W Murray a writer with the Huffington Post says:

The Senate held a hearing last week on the addiction and overdose crisis caused by heroin, illicit trafficking of the extremely potent drug fentanyl, and prescription opiate diversion and misuse. The crisis was responsible for 29,467 American deaths in 2014 alone, and many more in 2015 for which there is no final, official total yet.

Read more>>>>> Playing Politics With the Heroin Epidemic