THE ANSWER IS TO CARE

QUESTION: What should be done about the drug problem in Porter and
LaPorte counties?

RESPONSE

In order to address the drug problem in LaPorte and Porter counties,
one needs to first address the climate of prejudice, racism and
bigotry that exists here in Northwest Indiana. Most would admit that
when you picture a heroin addict, one doesn't picture someone blonde
and blue. The picture is someone brown or black.

Drugs are not prejudiced or biased.

In Friday's editorial, the writer used the work 'snooze' to describe
Porter and LaPorte County's reaction to their drug problem. The
snooze button is there to keep waking you and not to let you
oversleep. It's a warning that it's getting late and you are running
out of time.

If your prejudices and biases allow you to keep hitting that snooze
button because the face of the drug problem doesn't look like you,
then not only will the drug problem look like you, but it will be you.

I would hate to think I put a loved one in harm's way because of my
prejudices or biases. I'd hate to think that because the drug problem
didn't look like me, I became complacent.

In answer to the question: What should be done about the drug problem
in Porter and LaPorte counties? The answer is to care.

Care about what happens in other communities, network and communicate
with other counties. This isn't just a Lake, Porter, LaPorte county
issue; it's a regional issue. Until we begin to address the problem
as a regional issue, we will continue to spin our wheels and bury loved ones.

Sylvia Gibbs

Crown Point