CHASING the WRONG DRAGON

by Louie b. Free | 349 entries

Published: Sun. January 12, 2014 at 6:54p.m.

Untitled document

http://www.drugpolicy.org/new-solutions-drug-policy/brief-history-drug-war" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">"In June 1971, President Nixon declared a “war on drugs.” He dramatically increased the size and presence of federal drug control agencies, and pushed through measures such as mandatory sentencing and no-knock warrants." ----and, we've STILL, over 40 years later, failed to identify the 'enemy'.

http://www.vindy.com/news/2013/dec/31/the-killing-of-teddy-foltz--was-the-year/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">The Vindicator, 31 December 31, 2013, published a Top Stories 2013, by hard-working reporter, Joe Gorman. Joe's story, in part reads: "
http://www.vindy.com/news/2013/dec/31/the-killing-of-teddy-foltz--was-the-year/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">The Heroin Craze
The rise of heroin use and abuse of opiate-based painkillers in 2013 strained the resources of both law enforcement and treatment centers.

http://www.vindy.com/news/2013/dec/31/the-killing-of-teddy-foltz--was-the-year/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">It was not uncommon to find people passed out in cars from heroin overdoses, and the number of opiate-based overdose deaths was on the rise in both Mahoning and Trumbull counties.

http://www.vindy.com/news/2013/dec/31/the-killing-of-teddy-foltz--was-the-year/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Locally, experts pinned the increased use of the drug on a variety of factors, including the availability of heroin and its low cost.

http://www.vindy.com/news/2013/dec/31/the-killing-of-teddy-foltz--was-the-year/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">In both Trumbull and Mahoning counties, people who were charged with selling heroin that contributed to the death of another person received harsh sentences.

http://www.vindy.com/news/2013/dec/31/the-killing-of-teddy-foltz--was-the-year/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">On the street, police grappled with the problems of arresting heroin addicts, who at times were docile and at other times would flee either on foot or in a vehicle because they were afraid to go back to jail and begin going through withdrawal.

This story from last week (first full week, Janunary 2013) :http://www.ohio.com/news/summit-on-heroin-brings-out-recommendations-1.457571" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ohio Panel Recommends Steps to Battle Heroin Abuse,

http://www.ohio.com/news/summit-on-heroin-brings-out-recommendations-1.457571" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Among the recommendations:

http://www.ohio.com/news/summit-on-heroin-brings-out-recommendations-1.457571" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">• Educating citizens on the dangers of heroin use.

http://www.ohio.com/news/summit-on-heroin-brings-out-recommendations-1.457571" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">• Prioritizing heroin overdose as a public health threat.

http://www.ohio.com/news/summit-on-heroin-brings-out-recommendations-1.457571" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">• Advocating for legislation.

http://www.ohio.com/news/summit-on-heroin-brings-out-recommendations-1.457571" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">• Educating medical providers on opiate use.

http://www.ohio.com/news/summit-on-heroin-brings-out-recommendations-1.457571" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">• Providing funding for programs, use of Naloxone to first responders.

http://www.ohio.com/news/summit-on-heroin-brings-out-recommendations-1.457571" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">• Stricter guidelines on opiate prescriptions.

http://www.ohio.com/news/summit-on-heroin-brings-out-recommendations-1.457571" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">• Better data-sharing of opiate medicine.

http://www.ohio.com/news/summit-on-heroin-brings-out-recommendations-1.457571" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">• Focusing law enforcement efforts on addiction intervention.

http://www.ohio.com/news/summit-on-heroin-brings-out-recommendations-1.457571" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">• Greater priority on heroin-related death investigations.

http://www.ohio.com/news/summit-on-heroin-brings-out-recommendations-1.457571" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">• Better training to recognize addiction disease.

http://www.ohio.com/news/summit-on-heroin-brings-out-recommendations-1.457571" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">• Increasing use of electronic health records, databases.

Clearly, we're 'after-the-fact-ers'. Maybe, ,another time, I'll address these, generally too, too late. ineffective recommendations, but. let's go to the Governor's speech in Vermont, where they leave their doors unlocked, well, they used to.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/09/us/in-annual-speech-vermont-governor-shifts-focus-to-drug-abuse.html?_r=0" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">MONTPELIER, Vt. — In a sign of how drastic the epidemic of drug addiction here has become, Gov. Peter Shumlin on Wednesday devoted his entire State of the State Message to what he said was “a full-blown heroin crisis” gripping Vermont.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/09/us/in-annual-speech-vermont-governor-shifts-focus-to-drug-abuse.html?_r=0" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">“In every corner of our state, heroin and opiate drug addiction threatens us,” he said. He said he wanted to reframe the public debate to encourage officials to respond to addiction as a chronic disease, with treatment and support, rather than with only punishment and incarceration.

Governor Shumlin, passionate, yes, but uses that word, again RESPOND. Even Smokey the Bear urges PREVENTION .

So, what makes a junkie? Why SO many people from ALL walks and runs of life turn to heroin?? Why did a cute kid from Girard, Ohio, the haunting story of Christine Sheesley, the young girl who "celebrated" her 17th birthday(Spring 2012), having her older, junkie boyfriend, shoot her up with dope, with heroin.( I've talked, endlessly on the show as to my theories as to why..)

Ah, the un-asked questions!

There ARE people/corporations (same thing these days...yeah?) making a LOT of money, marketing and selling what THEY call rehabilitation.

Is that why these, so-called experts don't talk cause and effect? I don't know.

What I DO KNOW is that there are a LOT of people out there who are in a LOT of pain, emotional pain. They feel that it's killing them from inside, out. They're willing to do ANYTHING to kill that pain, even temporarily . I ALSO KNOW that children are being hurt, abused in all manners, in greater numbers than before...and, I KNOW that many of them will grow up and try to chase out that dragon, that they feel eating them alive, at ANY cost.

Again, NO ONE IS ASKING THE RELEVANT QUESTION(S): Why do we continue to chase the wrong dragons???

WHY are SO many people turning to junk ????

https://www.youtube.com/artist/neil-young?feature=watch_video_title" rel="nofollow">

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