Dec 14, 2017 1 min read

Regarding the opioid problem in our community and state, I went to a meeting a few years ago regarding the issue.

The meeting was for parents, friends and loved ones at Greenbriar Treatment Center in Washington. The speaker talked about the problems in his family. It went from lying and stealing to his becoming homeless. He went through several rounds of rehabilitation before becoming clean, meeting someone, working and living again and returning to his family. It was hard.

He asked his son to come with him, but he declined. But he said he had a life, with a place to live, a wife, bills and health insurance.

I came away with somewhat of an understanding and hope for addicts.

I am a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. We do not need to condone the behavior of addicts. Maybe compassion and understanding would be better.

Sandra Headlee

Carmichaels