 by Susan Bachant October 12, 2004
We can pass all the laws in the world, and remove from the shelves all the drugs that are misused and we will still have this problem. It will continue until our kids tell the dealers NO. Until they learn that it is NOT cool to get high. Our community leaders felt it was more important to have a community arts center, than to teach our children how to say NO to drugs, NO to the dealers, and NO to peer pressure. While I agree that an arts center would also give these teens something to do and something to get involved in other than drugs, I don't agree that it should have come at the expense of our children. I feel for the family who has suffered this terrible loss. It is a parent's worst nightmare. My daughter knew him and thought highly of him. I hope that the kids that knew him will do something positive and encourage their friends to say "Just say NO". I hope those kids who are currently abusing drugs will take a second look at their future and decide to seek help. I also hope that the people of this community will go to our community leaders and demand that programs like ADFY be funded so the kids who need help can get it. Susan Bachant
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