BAD NEWS

Re "Limited discourse" (News, Nov. 24):

I was disappointed in Dennis Myers' coverage of the Join Together
Northern Nevada press conference called by Mayor Bob Cashell to raise
awareness for the growing use of heroin among the youth of our area.
It seems Myers did not listen to, or read, what was provided to him.
It rather appears that Myers is predisposed to challenge anything
JTNN supports.

Three years ago, my kids were in college, and I personally came to
know six kids who were using heroin. This really scared me. I had
absolutely no idea that heroin was in our market and that you could
buy it for $10. If I didn't know, then I was sure many other parents
didn't either. I wanted to do something, and based on my background,
a media campaign made the most sense. I had to figure out how to get
this campaign going.

It took me a year to find my way to Join Together Northern Nevada, a
group of people who work with health care professionals, the school
district, the police department, business people, etc. all working
to help people stay off drugs, or get help if they are on them. Myers
found a way to turn this group into something negative. He spent most
of his article quoting someone who was not even at the press conference.

The entire point of our message is:

To make parents aware that heroin is easily available in our area;

To let kids know that it is dangerous;

To give people a way to find help;

To keep heroin from becoming a bigger problem in the Reno area.

Our message has absolutely nothing to do with whether any drug should
be legal or illegal. It has everything to do with awareness and help.
After the TV stations ran their stories, the phones at both JTNN and
Bristlecone (treatment center) rang off the hook with people looking
for help from heroin. We now have a group of parents who want to
start a heroin support group. The stories that the TV stations and
the RG-J ran gave people awareness and a possible path to help. I
seriously doubt that anyone who reads Myers' story will reach out for help.

I love the News & Review, but I am very disappointed with this
coverage. It was not even mentioned that we are trying to raise
money, or that someone in need can go to JTNN for help. I doubt very
much that the RN&R supports the use of heroin among our youth, so I
will be contacting the RN&R to see if you will run some PSA ads for us.

If you are interested in helping to stop the rise of heroin use in
our market, please go to JTNN.org and make a donation. Any amount
would be greatly appreciated.

Laura Newman

JTNN chairAnti Heroin Committee

Reno