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| 27 December 2001 - The San Diego Union-Tribune You can make the crucial difference against drugs Re: "Make no mistake, it can happen close to your home," (Opinion, Nov. 29): The impacts of drug abuse are felt by many people, not just the person who is using the drugs. And anyone can be a part of the solution, by choosing to get involved. El Cajon Elks Lodge 1812 sponsored an essay contest on the topic "There is No Hope on Dope." More than a thousand fourth-grade students from 16 schools submitted essays. One essay spells out the second hand effects of drug abuse: "Once there was a girl who lived in a big House with a big back yard. The back yard had a playhouse, a swing set, monkey bars, a trampoline, a palm tree, and grass. The front yard had a tree that they played on. There was a patch of flowers that the girl picked for her mommy. One day their dad's friend gave him some crystal and it was like a big, black cloud took their dad away. Their dad started coming home when they were getting ready for school. Their parents started fighting. Her sister hid her under blankets in their room. She did this so the girl couldn't hear her mom cry. Their dad got attached to drugs and went to jail for it. Their mom told them they had to move." The 9-year-old girl who wrote that essay understands the second-hand effects of her father's methamphetamine use. Her father is in jail, and she and her sister don't have that big back yard any more. There are ways to help drug users get the treatment they need. For referrals to drug treatment programs, call 1-877-No2Meth or log on to No2Meth.org. The Hotline and Web site also can be used to report suspected drug activity. Your involvement can help heal a family, and make your neighborhood more safe. ELMER PETERSON El Cajon Elks Lodge 1812 Drug Awareness Chairman |
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