Drug Abuse on the 4th of July

A Reminder of Drug Abuse on the 4th of July

Drug abuse is prevelant throughout the different holiday seasons.  Another holiday is upon us this week, one that carries extra significance due to the turmoil that our country has experienced over the last ten months. We have learned that drug abuse funds terrorist activity, as if the death and destruction that comes with substance abuse isn't enough already. We've seen multi-billion dollar companies fall within days, mainly because of dishonesty among the respected leaders of the organization. Hundreds of thousands of acres of land have gone up in an uncontrollable blaze, some started by the very people whose job it is to prevent such tragedies.

Throughout these times we have seen the use of legal and illegal increase dramatically. Prescription painkillers, anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medications are among the most frequently abused drugs.  Couple this with the fact that drinking alcohol, even in large amounts, is socially acceptable in our society, and it is evident that we have become a quick-fix, pill-popping society that looks for the easy way out instead of fully dealing with and handling our problems. These "remedies" cover the problems and fix the symptoms, but they don't solve the problems themselves.

National holidays like Independence Day typically have lots of outdoor activities and plenty of games, not to mention the beer usually flows like water. For an abused drug that kills more people than all illegal drugs combined, alcohol is a dangerous component. People drink too much and then make irrational decisions like getting behind the wheel of a car. The point is this - we've had enough tragedy in our country for one year, so let's don't add to it. The 4th of July is a day that is supposed to be a celebration of our freedom, not to mourn the loss of a loved one due to drug abuse.

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