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How the Out Of The Dark Movement Started
COMMUNITY SHOULD JOIN TOGETHER IN WAR ON DRUGS
BY CHARLES “SKIP” MOONEY JR.
Editorial Reprint - The Jonesboro Sun - July 18, 2008
Having read the articles concerning the tragic events surrounding the young adults who required or are still receiving medical treatment as a result of drug use, I could not help but to write this letter and tell all of the families involved that my family is deeply distraught and concerned that this has occurred. I clearly don’t know the circumstances surrounding the people who were subject to the recent articles, but I pray that these families can find help for their children and themselves. I am sure that some of them are struggling with some of the most difficult issues that they will ever face, and I hope God will give them the strength to get them through such trying times.
Anyone who has ever had a loved one or friend fall into the abuse of drugs understands the heartache and emotional distress suffered by the user as well as the family members. Having represented clients with family issues over the past 24 years, I have found that one common thread in most of these types of cases involves deterioration of the family unit and the relationships of all those involved with the user. Until this happens to you, there is really no way to understand the effect on the person using and everybody involved with this person. Denial is the first safeguard most parents and loved ones seem to use, which is the most dangerous thing to happen. This normally allows the situation to progress. Nobody wants to think that they or their children have a problem until it is clearly out of control and extremely difficult to resolve. Have you ever thought or said things such as, “This couldn’t happen to my family!” or “Oh, it is just a phase they are going through like so many other kids.” If so, then maybe you should step back and re-examine the situation before it is too late, because more than likely it is just a matter of time before the levee breaks and you find yourself in this situation. The truth is that very few people get involved in drugs solely for recreational purposes. How many people with drug addiction started out wanting to be an addict? There is always an underlying problem that the person is having, and the use is only a symptom of the problem. We all have problems, and this can happen to anybody.
Did you know that a lot of kids don’t believe that they could become addicted to a drug by experimenting with it? I recently read an article that said that a lot of young people believe that if you smoke drugs like meth, cocaine or heroin, instead of injecting, that the drug is not addictive. Everybody knows that these drugs are readily available in Jonesboro. Who is spreading this misinformation to our teenagers and young adults? Maybe it is some of the street talk that is being provided by the dealers making money off of death and human destruction. When was the last time you heard our local media send messages to these young people concerning the risks and facts of drug use? Why is it only at a time of tragedy that the media provides information regarding these issues to our youth? It just seems to me that as much money that is produced in our community, these young people should be receiving a lot information about the risks and facts of drug use since they are confronted with this drug culture in Jonesboro on a daily basis.
Having lived in Jonesboro most of my life, I know that drug use is not a new issue and continues to be more and more prevalent in our community. The use of drugs is rampant in Jonesboro, just like most cities, and is not normally reported until it comes to light by way of an arrest or a tragic medical emergency due to the unjustified stigma that is sometimes associated with the user or the embarrassment that many families initially feel. Our community needs to be aware that these people are not losers and that there should be no stigma attached to a person who is deeply troubled about things in his or her life. What these people need is our support as a community to help them as we would any person having problems.
I for one do not intend to sit around any longer and live in a community that does not strongly advocate to our young adults the facts that are really occurring in our neighborhoods. People are making money by selling pills, cocaine, meth and related drugs to our youth who are merely trying to suppress their troubles by using them and are uninformed about the risks involved. Therefore, I have decided to do whatever I can to help people and families with drug problems with what little ability I have. I know that there are a lot of great people out there trying to help, but the truth is, it takes more. It takes help and support from the people who have not yet been directly affected. We will never win the war on drugs, but we certainly need to do what we can to help those that are at risk or who have fallen and need our help.
This isn’t always a parental or social economic problem, but it is OUR community’s problem. If we do not step up and do something about this, then it will only get worse. Anybody that is interested in helping me try to create some solutions or ideas to our problem, then please contact me at the below address or by email. Maybe we can work together to help our community and the families that live here.
The author is a Jonesboro attorney. He can be contacted at P.O. Box 1428, Jonesboro
AR 72403-1428, or
jmooney@mlfark.com
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MORE OFTD ARTICLES
MEETING ADDRESSES DRUGS, HEALTH ISSUES
The Jonesboro Sun - Tuesday, August 26, 2008
by Michael Wilkey
ANTI-DRUG PANEL PLANS MEETINGS
The Jonesboro Sun - Monday, August 18, 2008
ATTORNEY ADDRESSES DRUG PROBLEM TO CRAIGHEAD QUORUM COURT
The Jonesboro Sun - Tuesday, August 12, 2008
by Anthony Childress
DRUG CONCERNS BACK ON QUORUM COURT'S AGENDA
The Jonesboro Sun - Sunday, August 10, 2008
by Anthony Childress
PANELS FIGHTING ILLEGAL DRUGS
The Jonesboro Sun - Sunday, August 10, 2008
by Michael Wilkey
YATES WEIGHS IN ON DRUG WOES
The Jonesboro Sun - Friday, August 1, 2008
by George Jared
ABOUT 175 ATTEND DRUG FORUM
The Jonesboro Sun - Friday, August 1, 2008
by George Jared
SHERIFF: WAR ON DRUGS CONTINUING
The Jonesboro Sun - Tuesday, July 29, 2008
by Anthony Childress
