Strive for prevention, not intervention

There is no question that drugs have infested the rural quiet we have grown to identify with the Harlem Valley. Week after week there are reports of heroin and opioid overdoses and deaths in our little section of paradise. And it’s not just hardened criminals who are dying. Teenagers and young adults are experimenting with and succumbing to drugs — they’re in our schools, on our streets, and though many would never admit it, in our homes. For some it’s easier to turn a blind eye, claim that their children would never dream of touching drugs — but that’s not addressing the problem. The problem is easy access, too much idle time and too little supervision. Another issue is awareness. Sometimes the problem is that young ones aren’t aware of the dangers of drugs — of how addictive and destructive they truly are. And sometimes the problem is that the adults in their lives aren’t aware that such problems could plague their children — that drugs really are accessible on street corners and in school hallways. Sometimes, it seems, adults would rather have blinders on than acknowledge their charges could dabble in something so dangerous, deadly and criminal.This one demands we all take a good, long, hard look at reality. Society, as a whole, has to recognize the problem if it wants to tackle it successfully. Yes, there are great strides being made to help those who take drugs. There’s now Narcan (Naloxone), a new “miracle drug,” as State Sen. Greg Ball calls it, that can potentially save the lives of those who have overdosed on opioids. A heroin antidote, Narcan is a lifesaver, but it’s not really the answer to the problem. It’s a band-aid, something to fix what’s already been broken. For a real solution we have to dig deeper and try to figure out what causes so many to search for solace in a pill, pipe or bottle.There needs to be better communication with our children, with our students, with our family members and our coworkers — we need to offer support and show we care about them and their problems. Those who turn to drugs might not do so if they had friends and loved ones to depend on in times of trouble.Perhaps those inclined to do drugs need something more, something many of us just can’t offer on our own. Consider counseling. Therapy can work wonders — it can build one’s inner strength and sense of self ­— and help provide a person the tools to work toward a healthy and productive future.If it’s too late in the game and prevention is no longer an option, consider crisis intervention. There are individuals and organizations that cater specifically toward those dealing with drug addiction — most of whom know what they’re doing. Such support is critical and could mean the difference between life and death.Remember one thing, just because someone might be struggling with addiction does not make him or her weak or bad. It just means he or she is grappling with a hardship. Offer support, offer friendship, offer love and offer reality-based help. Acknowledging the problem and recognizing its significance is crucial in the search for a lasting cure — and that should be priority number one. Learn from such experiences, know if such a predilection exists and then keep all temptation far from sight. Drugs are out there; they’re insidious, they’re dangerous and they’re not to be messed with, by anyone. Beware that turning a blind eye to the problem will accomplish nothing and could be harmful; doing so could destroy your home, damage your community, kill your loved ones. Don’t wait to deal with an addict; try your best to offer preventative measures and intervene — and hopefully get there before the problem develops into addiction.