I received a comment on my last blog (Another Boy Dead) that asked me to explain how it is "everyone's" responsibility to help fight addiction, even if you do not know an addict. I would like to take the time now to explain what I meant.
The best thing you can do is prevent addiction before it starts. If you are a parent, teacher, or anyone else who is responsible for the care of children, you can educate children in the right way. What I mean by the "right way" is do not use scare tactics. When you talk to children and tell them they absolutely cannot do something, it can make many children want to do it more. If you can sit down with children and have an open conversation and explain what drugs can do to their mind, body and family in a calm and non abrasive way, this can help send a message. It is also important to let children know that you can be a resource and a support system for them, regarding drug use and abuse.
Once an addiction occurs, you can help by becoming a supporter, even if you do not know the person. It is very easy to search for a drug rehabilitation center online and most of them accept donations. This donation can be anything you want to give, it does not have to be much. By donating to a rehabilitation center you help the staff there to treat patients and show your own support. If you want to take it a step further, rehabilitation centers often hold fundraising events such as golf tournaments, concerts and other community events. Also, donating does not always mean spending money. You can volunteer your time at a rehabilitation center or send a care package. Many centers want to have activities for their patients, so you could donate old sports equipment, board games, movies etc. Try calling a local rehab center and asking what they need or telling them what you have and seeing if it will help.
As far as why you should take responsibility and help addicts in your community, the answer is simply you do not want drug addiction to become a huge problem. By showing addicts seeking help your support you can encourage struggling addicts to seek help. You can also help give rehabilitation centers the resources they need to treat addicts. By something as simple as educating your children, or donating $10 to an addiction rehabilitation center, you can help prevent or stop a drug problem in your community.
Thank you for following up on my question, and expanding upon it at length.
ReplyDeleteI understand why fighting addiction is important to everyone; it's a variation the reason why public education is everyone. Your community is better off if people are well-educated; your community is better off if people are not addicted.
Your advice on how to raise children is pretty much how I raised mine. One of the problems I have with the DARE program is that it is pretty much all scare tactics.