To the Editor:
This era of drug abuse and mental health that we find ourselves in is indeed tragic. Righting our course is not an impossible feat; it will take tough choices and sober reflection, however. [“Social safety net is woven by workers,” Altamont Enterprise editorial, Sept. 28, 2023].

Achieving success will be hard but, if we don’t take bold actions, more of our family members, siblings, and friends will continue to waste away in oblivion. 

We may have turned several calendars since the “just say no” and “lock ’em up” days but our current abysmal stats on drug use and abuse make you wonder how effective the new progressive policies have been. True, an addict can’t come clean if they are dead, but our metric for success needs to be less addicts and less mental health episodes. If our highest goal is “just don’t die,” we have a bleak future [“What’s in your medicine cabinet?” Altamont Enterprise editorial, Sept. 21, 2023].

If we lose sight of preventative measures and concentrate only on reactionary tactics to deal with this crisis, we’ve lost before we even started. The preventative centered approach of the “dare to keep kids off drugs” campaign must still be considered a useful tool.

We also need to reinforce truths, to our children and adults alike. Truths like the fact that choices matter and that all lives are interconnected; when the choice is made to isolate, use drugs, engage in criminal activity, it negatively influences their families, their friends, and their community. 

Yes, jobs and economic activity are helpful to keep someone from abusing drugs, but more important than both is that people need hope! Hope, joy, and relationships are, by far, more effective in reinforcing someone’s emotional well-being and deterring a mental imbalance.

People need jobs, yes, but it takes a length of time for a recovering addict or a mentally unstable person to get back on their feet. There are many jobs currently advertised in Guilderland alone; the reality is though, that a mentally unstable person either does not qualify or cannot keep that job. 

This is why faith-based recovery centers, like Albany Adult & Teen Challenge, see exponentially higher success rates of individuals recovering from drug and alcohol abuse than non-faith-based programs. Finding salvation and a renewed hope for life is the best way to break the chain of an addiction or abuse.

I’m not saying it can’t be done without, but God changes lives and saves souls. If we can’t acknowledge this power and suggest it to people in need for the good of our neighbors, loved ones, and friends then we’ve done them a disservice.  

Our goal should be to help people rebuild their lives, so they are fulfilled, happy, and productive. The current messaging of “how can we make sure a drug addict does the least harm to their surroundings?” does nothing to curb attitudes, prevent use and reduce crimes.

It’s easier said than done but we must come together and provide community for our struggling neighbors and loved ones. This could start by smiling, waving, saying hello, to make sure the ripple of hope and joy reverberates through our town. 

Christopher Longo

Guilderland