My heart is heavy far too often when local headlines include yet another loss of a young life to heroin overdose. My heart sinks even lower when I read through the unfiltered reader comments at the bottom of those articles.
Many people will never understand addiction, unless they have lived through it personally or loved someone who has fought those demons. However, even if you cannot understand the choice to use drugs, even if you feel strongly that addiction is a choice, I have one plea – consider the innocent bystanders in this epidemic. Consider the children and families of those deceased, whose voices are stifled and needs are neglected by the communities they belong to.
Recently, a young woman I grew up with passed away at 20 years old after wrestling her heroin addiction. Upon hearing the news, I thought of the young, vibrant life that was lost. I thought about the hurt her family must feel. I thought about how easily her story could have been mine. I thought about the many ways in which our society had failed her. I thought about the toddler son she had left behind and his incarcerated father. I thought about the opportunities this young boy could have and how we, as a community, have a responsibility to offer him safe, stable and nurturing relationships.
[For moreof this story, written by Marissa St. Laurent, go to http://www.concordmonitor.com/...-innocent-bystanders]
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