To the editor:
On behalf of Substance Abuse Awareness Month we thought we would take this opportunity to shed some light on addiction and recovery. Readers may recall that nearly a year ago we wrote a series of articles about our struggles with drug addiction and our experiences with recovery. A year later, we have seen many people come and go, some fell back into relapse, while many of us have maintained sobriety and have become productive members of our community. In writing our first series of articles last year, it was our hope that more people would have responded to our letter as we recognize that the issue of substance abuse is a significant issue facing our communities. In the past year, we have seen that drug-related crimes appear to be on the rise and we are concerned about how this increase in criminal behavior is affecting our community. We have also had concern about the lack of regular public forums to address the issues surrounding substance abuse and addiction.
Over the past year, we have had a lot of discussion around the need for a detoxification center for the citizens of Aroostook County. However, we also recognize the challenges and concerns of developing a program that is addressing the needs of people in need of detoxification.
On the flip-side of this, we have heard increasing radio advertisements supporting substance abuse recovery and treatment. There has also been an increase presence in our local news broadcasts to increase awareness around the issues of addiction and recovery.
In conclusion, it is our hope that members of our community will share their experience with substance abuse and recovery. We would also hope to hear feedback around the areas that we have brought to light in this article.
Caribou
