Don't wait, take action now

Editor,

Recently I received a call from a man who was heartsick over his granddaughter who is abusing drugs and alcohol. The man asked me what he should do and I told him the same thing I have told others in similar situations: Get the authorities involved.

If you have exhausted all pleading and the person has not attempted to get help, then there is only one course of action that will work. Denial is not only a problem for addicts. We often ignore the things we see in our own families and in our own back yards in the hope the problems will go away, but they don't.

If you know a mother or father, or both, who are abusing chemicals and their children are not getting their needs met, call someone for help.

A man asked me, "Why should we have to take responsibility for someone who can't control their drinking?" Trust me, if the problem is not addressed now, and progresses, it will end up costing far more than anyone ever intended. The cost cannot be measured only in money, but also by the deep seated effect on children and families.

Yes, treatment can be expensive and a pain in the behind, but if the problem is allowed to continue and the medical profession gets hold of it, the cost will increase a hundredfold. Besides, when did we put a dollar value on human beings?

We are all too quick to send money to "third world countries" when some smooth talking evangelist says the children are starving, send money.

We are not as quick to use our phone when our neighbor is abusing his family and his kids are eating cold cereal three times and day and going without love. We turn a blind eye unless it directly affects us or our immediate family, and at times even then.

This is a social problem that affects everyone and is not isolated to only those on the low end of the food chain. We pay for the problem, though, through our courts, jails, prisons and Department of Family Services as well as hospital bills, health insurance costs and increased law enforcement costs.

I do not believe there is anyone who is untouched by addiction and I do not believe we will ever solve anything by ignoring the problem. If you know or see, call. Don't count on someone else to do it. Too many of us have been taught to do just that, and if we do not change the way we think, the problems will only grow worse. You can love someone to death … literally.

Chuck Ripley

Polson