REHAB CENTRES NECESSARY

I have lived in Cambridge for the past 19 years. It breaks my heart
every time I run into an old friend and find out that they are or were
addicted to a very powerful drug.

Some of them have gotten help and are doing great, but they had to
leave our city to do that and wait on a waiting list for months.

I personally think it is awesome that we are considering opening a
drug rehab centre. I would like to hear whose neighborhood they would
like for this to open in.

It doesn't matter if you live in a low income neighborhood or high
income neighborhood, we all have children that we want to keep safe.

I honestly wouldn't have a problem with this facility opening in my
neighborhood. These people aren't murderers or sex offenders, they
have just fallen off the wagon and need some direction.

Most rehab clinics have a requirement of being clean for 30 days
before admittance. These people want help and are willing to do the
first 30 days by themselves, which I can't even imagine how hard that
is.

Now I realize this clinic is for professionals and costs $10,000 per
stay, but I hope this will open the door so we, as a city, can help
the people who can't afford that kind of money and who need this help.

I watch people walk downtown and turn their nose up at somebody who
has an obvious drug or alcohol problem, but nobody wants to find any
solutions to this problem.

I hate to break it to you Cambridge, but we have a serious drug and
alcohol problem.

Lindsay Barnes

Cambridge