Less talk, more solutions in drug epidemic battle
It goes without saying that people in our area are desperately searching for answers to combat the drug epidemic that is ravaging our communities.
The number of drug overdoses – mostly from heroin and other opioids – is climbing each year in Washington and Greene counties, making Western Pennsylvania one of the battlegrounds in this nationwide fight.
Just last Thursday, the Coalition for a Brighter Greene held its second annual town hall meeting in the Greene County Courthouse to discuss what can be done to curb drug abuse, crime and overdose deaths.
There was singing and prayer, and the group’s discussion often focused on how religion can be the solution.
“If we are going to fight against the epidemic in our community and in our country, then we need to turn back to God,” said Richard Berkey, the president of the coalition.
While religion can be an important and steadying force in someone’s life, it alone cannot cure the physical addiction that ravages a drug user. There has to be more.
The coalition formed a year ago to raise awareness of the drug problem. One year later, the community has now been educated and no longer can hide from the reality of the epidemic. Now, the group needs to pivot out of the dialogue about the drug problem and begin immersing itself in searching for a solution, if there is one.
While not perfect, methadone and suboxone can wean an addict off of opioids and offer a chance to function again in society. There absolutely should be tighter regulations and more oversight on such clinics, but they are an important part of the overall treatment process.
Yet, when various drug treatment centers have been proposed over the past year in both Cumberland Township and Waynesburg, they’ve been met with stiff resistance from the community. Arguments against both drug treatment centers coming into the community represented the typical “not in my backyard” mentality, when in reality, this drug abuse epidemic is walking through our front door.
Naloxone, while hailed as a miracle drug by some because it can reverse the effects of a deadly overdose, provides only a short-term impact by saving an overdosing addict’s life. It does not offer a long-term solution on how addicts can recover and immerse themselves as productive participants in society. There should be mandated treatment required for those who have been administered the life-saving drug.
Getting to the beginning point of recovery is such a large problem.
How do you compel a drug addict to seek recovery and then maintain a healthy lifestyle?
At the very minimum, there should be more detox units in Greene County. That is the starting point for getting an addict clean.
Groups such as the coalition should be applauded for getting the conversation started.
Now, it’s time to build on that momentum, narrow the focus and find long-lasting solutions.