A look at addiction and recovery in Watertown N.Y

A look at addiction and recovery in Watertown N.Y

Although Watertown is a small community by city standards, we have many of the same problems of major metropolitan areas when it comes to drugs in our community. Crack cocaine, Heroin, Ecstasy, Methamphetamines and black market pharmaceuticals are readily available for those who seek them. According a National Institutes of Drug Addiction report on American cities and the estimated addicts in a population, Watertown has one the highest concentration of addicts, with 13% of the population being addicted to some form of illicit drug. (It is important to note that that this number is only representative of those addicts that seek some form of treatment and therefor the total number is likely to be higher.)

The drug issue in Watertown may be widely known, however, there seems to be a nonchalant attitude toward the treatment of addicts in our community. Yes, we are fortunate to have two outpatient clinics in Samaritan Behavioral Health and Credo. However, they are wholly understaffed and not all staff that is in these clinics demonstrates the ability to individually treat addicts with the time and dignity that is proven to foster strong recovery programs.

Drugs in Watertown are relatively easy to get. We don't have dealers on corners like in some major cities but we don't have to in order to have a pervasive problem. Many times because of our relatively small population a dealer has nothing more to do than sit in a house and wait for the customers to come to him/her. As long as the dealer knows one person that knows a lot of other people then his work is quite easy. Simply stay inside so as not to be noticed and let addicts/users make the phone calls and transport the drugs to customers.

The fact is that as long as there is a demand for illegal drugs, there will always be someone willing to take the risk of supplying them. The real battle is with the users and addicts. If we can teach people how to live and deal with life on life's terms and support those that have the hardest time, we will have made great strides to stem the availability of drugs and thusly the chance for our children to become involved with them. It begins with the parents of course. The "Not my kid" attitude that your child would never get involved with drugs is precisely the perspective that opens the door for children to do just that.

Drug abuse is not just the problem of a few select people of weak will. When one member of our community is stricken by the problem we are all affected in some way. From the financial cost of supporting a police department that must devote countless man hours to investigation and the overwhelming court costs of thousands of cases per year to the social cost of losing some of most talented and intelligent people to the throes of addiction.

Over the years we have tried many remedies in which to limit the consumption of drugs by our community members. Stiffer sentencing by our court system and a greater number of laws and a broader scope by which to enforce them have done nothing. In fact it has only clogged the jail and court system even more. This not to say that we should just give up. Quite the contrary. There are many new and innovative ideas throughout the country that are proving have greater impact on communities and drug addicts alike. One such Idea is the Recovery high school. Young people with drug issues are not only taught the basic education of a normal high school but they are also taught important skills to deal individual issues that have lead them to seek self-medication. This is but one idea that is showing merit. There are countless others that socially conscience communities are putting into effect.

Watertown will not solve its drug issues by adhering to the old way of doing things. That is quite evident by the population problems of our county jail and the instances of recidivism. Unless we take a proactive stand toward education and treatment we will be mired in this expansive social issue for years to come. Do we really want to stand idle while those with drug issues perish every day to the prison system or the graveyard? Chances are you have a family member or friend that is currently in a fight with drug abuse issues right now. Is it not our obligation as good people, and civic leaders to all we can?

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