POSITIVE ROLE MODELS

Dear Editor,

I am often asked to comment on the dangers of Crystal Meth. Today
there is a great deal of fear about this chemical drug. Is the fear
warranted? If you consider the damage it can do to a community ...
YES! Crystal Meth (Ice, Crank, Crystal) can destroy a community. If it
takes hold, it would be very difficult to get back. That said, has
Crystal Meth taken over our community - not to date.

I always want to ask people what are we going to do about it? Crystal
Meth is a horrible drug. It is incredibly powerful for those who
choose to use it. So, how can we stop experimentation, or in other
words, choices to use. I believe the answer involves the community,
connection and education.

In my opinion, drugs are not an issue of hard or soft, judgemental or
non-judgemental (like so many debates may drive us to believe).
Ultimately these issues take us from the important fact, the choice or
decision to use. Truly the only way to influence drugs in our
communities is to impact attitudes. Currently the attitude surrounding
Crystal Meth is very negative. If you were to ask the average youth or
adult, I think you would likely get a consistent answer, something
like "meth is very bad, very harmful." This would explain the lack of
current prevalence in use. I wish this were the case for all drugs
(e.g.: marijuana, alcohol, etc ...)

Our youth need positive adult role models. It doesn't matter about our
past, it matters the choices we make today and tomorrow. It matters
the choices they make for their future. Our youth need adult
relationships, they have enough friends. Kids can't be raising each
other.

I often think, what would I want for my child? I certainly wouldn't
want to encourage use, experimentation or anything ... I would hope
their is a future that would support the non-use of any drug.
Ultimately this would be the best possible outcome - a great starting
point! Talk to your kids! Don't think all is OK because you tried it
and "look at me, I'm fine."

I doubt many people today would support a concept of the safe use of
tobacco. Prevention education has worked for smoking, so let's
continue the change. As a community we must take action to influence
the normalization of drug use (any drug). We need to educate our
youth. We need to build adult child relationships. We need to plan to
be role models.

Sincerely,

Alan Nutini,

Drugs & Organized Crime Awareness Service