Drug problem plagues our community
by Frank Lewis
15 days ago | 1743 views | 11 11 comments | 45 45 recommendations | email to a friend | print
I have just read an e-mail from my friend Bob Walton Jr., and I have decided it is time to go ahead and talk about the number one problem in our community.

Bobby is a big supporter of the family and consumer sciences project at East High School, and actually turned me on to that story to begin with.

He is in a battle right now that we all need to be a part of. The drug problem in our community is killing our area. Bob is attempting to wage war against the problem in Wheelersburg, and there are people attempting to do the same in the other areas of Scioto County.

Prescription drugs have become the drugs of choice because they are so easy to obtain. I see people standing outside waiting to go in, get their prescriptions, fill those prescriptions, and sell them on the street.

I’m going to call it what it is. Oxycodone is this area’s number one “cash crop.” It is the reason for the huge rash of burglaries, thefts and robberies. It is why Eighth Street is flooded with prostitution. It is why men come from the streets of Columbus, find local women who will let them move in, and sell drugs out of their houses.

And here is the worst part. There would be no reason for people to sell drugs on the streets of Scioto County if there wasn’t such a market for it. I read the police and sheriff’s reports every day. There is so much demand for drugs that people will do anything to get them. That means they will break into your house and steal the things you have worked hard for, so they can get a couple of Oxycontin 80’s. These pills sell for $1 a milligram. So these aimless, worthless, and uncaring individuals will steal from their children, whether it’s food from a school project, or toys at Christmas, to sell to buy drugs. They even occasionally kill someone because they didn’t get the money they were owed for some drugs they provided.

I believe area law enforcement is doing an outstanding job of fighting the war. But it takes a total effort by everyone. If you are addicted, you need to seek help immediately. There are several wonderful agencies in our area who offer services to help. If you know of someone dealing drugs, turn them in. Insist the courts give the maximum sentence to drug offenders. Watch your neighborhoods. Protect your children. Be vigilant. Stop lending credibility to those sources who operate as legitimate medical services, but, in reality, are simply pill pushers.

It’s time to fight. It is time for us to step up and take back our communities.

Drugs are killing our communities and our people.

Let’s choose to change the way things are. We can do it one effort at a time.

Frank Lewis may be reached at (740) 353-3101 Ext. 232
comments (11)
« sidneyblue wrote on Thursday, Nov 19 at 10:54 PM »
THE STATISTICS THAT 11 PEOPLE ARE DIEING EVERYDAY FROM OXYCONTIN.. IS UNREAL.. THE BIBLE SPEAKS OF A PLAQUE THAT WILL HIT OUR NATION AND I REALLY BELIEVE THIS COULD VERY WELL BE THAT PLAQUE.. SO MANY OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE OUR DYING NEEDLESSLY.. I BLAME THE DR.'S THEY ARE THE ONE PRESCRIBING THIS DRUG TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO MEDICAL CAUSE FOR THE DRUG.. ON OCT 1ST MY DAUGHTER WENT TO A PAIN CLINIC IN WHEELERSBURG,WENT TO COLUMBUS ON THE 2ND (TO GET THE SCRIPT FILLED)THE PHARMACY THEY JUST RAIDED ON THE EAST SIDE. DIED THAT SAME NIGHT.. WHEN DOES IT END? SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE
« caring-mother wrote on Thursday, Nov 19 at 04:16 PM »
I have a brother who is 28..he's a drug addict. He has been sent to prison 2 times so far. He has stolen my mothers bank card and wiped out her account, he's stolen things from every family member, he's ripped off drug dealers, he's gotten physically violent with our mother and even threatened her life...The sheriff's dept. has done done anything to him...He goes to the doctor at least once a month and has made several trips to Florida. I believe if my mother would practice some tough love with him he would be forced to turn his life around, but instead she has alienated herself from the whole family..I personally do not understand her actions. I do put some of the blame on the sheriff's dept. bc they are not doing anything..some blame goes to my mother for inabling him and most of the blame goes to his parole officer, Tom Dyke, who knows what my brother is doing, but gives us the excuse that he's worth more to the state out than locked up...I nor my family nor the owners of the homes he has broken into agree. It's time to get these druggies off our streets, so that our children can grow up happy, safe and carefree. My 12 year old knows more about this subject than I did at the age of 21..it's time to take a stand and reclaim our neighborhoods.
« frustratedpatient wrote on Wednesday, Nov 18 at 02:48 PM »
sounds like none of you have any sense
« frustratedpatient wrote on Wednesday, Nov 18 at 02:32 PM »
Maybe some of you are right about the drug problem in are area, but because of this myself and I am sure many others that really need pain management are the ones that are really suffering form this. I broke my back four years ago and have had several surgeys since, and the only comfort i have are my pain meds. And now because of some of you that think that your shit dont stink i can barely get out of bed. so for the ones of you saying things about the people that go to these doctors know what your talking about. And for nurse pract save some film heres my lp number brc575.
« WhoaDoggies wrote on Wednesday, Nov 18 at 08:44 AM »
I appreciate Mr. Lewis' concern but I don't think the problem can be solved by residents' outrage, police and courts' response alone. There needs to be a CONCERTED, organized community effort, involving everyone in the community. Giving sermons is not enough. We have to get involved, organize, contact others who are similarly interested, get outside expert advice when needed, but ultimately programs involving everyone are needed.

One of important things to do is look at how this happens. Why do "local women them move in"? What other opportunities do these local women have? What are the job and educational opportunities available? Why aren't there sustained long term entrepreneurship training available to create jobs? Why aren't there programs to retrain people for real jobs when employers move their companies abroad?

As noted in the great book, The General Theory of Love, (Lewis and others), 99.9% of people who try drugs do not become addicted. What causes those others to do so? Good parentings is a basic requirement. What is good parenting: being attuned to the internal life of the child, being capable, calm, and predictable. How many of our children have these qualities in their parents/caregivers? Hospitals and seasoned quality parents could be providing basic parenting training to new parents on how to care for and interact with newborns, how to discipline and reinforce, and to learn the basic skills that prevent addiction.

It will take a lot of work. Some people here are already working hard... but EVERYone needs to be involved.
« cowignyrt wrote on Sunday, Nov 15 at 07:22 PM »
NO. it is the Doctors,the companies who make them, and the pill clinics who sell them. And I know people who take rat poison belive it or not. I also know that the sheriff department works out deals with pill offenders (including pain clinic owners and theives) to narc out harmless pot growers. Pillhead stays on the street, sheriff department looks good, Tim Irr's eyes get even bigger when he says marijana on telivision. We need to fight this disease or else just sit back and wait for more dead girls to be found in the woods.

Cowignyrt,

patriot
« openeye wrote on Saturday, Nov 14 at 09:09 PM »
I completely agree that prescription drugs are a big problem for this community. Here, as in many communities around the globe, the drug market fuels crime. On the other hand, I feel that we cant hang all of the blame on doctors and pharmaceutical companies. There's an underlying problem that's causing record numbers of people to abuse drugs. Not all users "fall victim". To believe that people are abusing drugs just because a doctor is willing to prescribe them or a company is producing them is ignorant. Companies manufacture rat poison also, but you don't see people mindlessly abusing that, do you? Let's be honest with ourselves and take a closer look at why, not just whose to blame. Some of the prescription drugs mentioned are very effective at what they are intended for, they were not developed with "hyper addiction" in mind. There is obviously a big demand for these drugs. I have a feeling that taking them off the market would open the flood gates to other sources, especially heroin. It's not that simple. thank you
« NursePract wrote on Sunday, Nov 08 at 04:17 PM »
Mr. Lewis what started out to be a good article to me ended on a sour note. You are right the drug oxycontin is Killing our kids but our kids are the same people you called "these aimless, worthless, and uncaring individuals that will steal from their children, whether it’s food from a school project, or toys at Christmas, to sell to buy drugs. They even occasionally kill someone because they didn’t get the money they were owed for some drugs they provided." They are doing it because they are Addicted, and they are killing themselves. The real criminal here is Purdue Pharma and the Doctors who are prescribing the drugs to line their own pockets. They don't care if their patient has just stolen from their parents or kids or the neighbors or even killed to get the money as long as they have their cold hard cash. GREED that is what has cause this epidemic. The thing to do is to go after the Suppliers THE BIG GUYS the Purdue Pharma and the others that will now mass produce in the genetric form and the Pill Mills and their Doctors and the high priced lawyers who defend. Throw in a few dirty law enforcement people and our county and state will be a safer place to live. And it is not as easy as you say to get help to get off this drug. If you have no insurance or medicaid then you are out of luck and no don't say if they have money for drugs they have money for services when is the last time you saw someone take a hot TV or phone for some counseling sessions? Some of these Suboxone clinics have Oxycotin sales on one side and Suboxone on the other. Get them addicted then get them off all for a pretty heafty cash fee. Many things need to be done that is for sure, but lets start cutting off the supply first! See you at the Protest I will be the one with the camera aimed at the car tags and a Sign in my hand. Pill Mills Kills

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