No simple answers: a community response to substance abuse

Posted Mar. 8, 2014 @ 12:01 am

Substance abuse is just not a Fall River, New Bedford, Taunton, or Boston problem. Substance abuse knows no property boundaries and is present throughout all our cities and suburbs. It is a problem for rich and poor alike, professional and blue collar workers, homeless people and people from all levels of society. Drugs and alcohol know no race or religion or income; they don’t discriminate. The substance abuse epidemic that has ravaged our region and the country is a problem belonging to all of us and in need of discussion and action.

If you are not an addict, the numbers and odds show that you probably know someone very close to you who is. A statistic from the Center for Disease Control says that 100 people died from drug overdoses every day in 2010. As staggering as that may be for each individual death, think of how many other people in the extended family and friends are affected, as well.

The recent spike in the number of overdoses and deaths once again brings this issue to the forefront as people struggle with the reasons why. Why is this epidemic going untreated? Why are people dying from illegal drugs being imported into this region from other parts of the world? What role do prescription drugs play in this epidemic? Why do we incarcerate drug users as opposed to providing drug treatment? What is the answer to this plague impacting our society? Are there any answers?

Clearly, this is an issue that must be addressed on a national, state, and local level. I cannot say that I have the answer or solution to substance abuse; I only know that we need to continue to discuss this issue and identify potential solutions. The methods of prevention and treatment should be many and varied, and we have to be able to provide each one effectively. In my opinion, the issues noted below should serve as a foundation for further discussion and action:

— Early education: Studies show that if we can educate our young people as to the danger and addictive nature of drugs and keep them drug free to the age of 14, chances are they will not become users.

— Drug treatment vs. incarceration: Studies show that it is cheaper to treat drug and alcohol users than incarcerate them. Expanding the number and type of inpatient and outpatient treatment facilities will augment treatment. This increase in accessibility will provide more options to those in need.

— Massachusetts drug courts: Increase the number of drug courts in Massachusetts to integrate alcohol and drug treatment services with justice case processing. Drug court is an effort to break the “addict’s cycle of crime.” This cycle of crime is all too predictable. A drug addict commits a crime that leads to an arrest. There is a prosecution and a period of incarceration. During the time of incarceration, this individual is temporarily unable to commit crimes. However, once the individual has served his or her sentence, the individual is returned to society with no new tools to combat the condition and returns to a life of crime. The cycle repeats itself. Drug courts help to protect public safety by requiring mandatory drug and alcohol treatment, zero tolerance by requiring continued drug and alcohol testing and incarceration upon test failure.

— Prescription drug abuse control: The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has classified prescription drug abuse as an epidemic.

Data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) show that nearly one-third of people aged 12 and over who used drugs for the first time in 2009 began by using a prescription drug non-medically. Provide law enforcement with the tools necessary to eliminate improper prescribing practices and stop pill mills.

The plight of addiction does not have to rest solely on an individual or the family. The road to recovery is daunting, and it should not be traveled alone. We each have the ability to help our loved ones who are struggling. Whether or not you or your family is battling a substance abuse issue, we all have to admit it — the days of “it’s not my problem” are over, and we must work together to find a cure for this epidemic.