Don’t enable drug use

In a society where thousands of dollars are spent on liquor wars and the legalization of marijuana, where funding is cut for mental health professionals and people fight over bonds to allow improved education for our children, in a society where no party can be held without mood-altering drugs, life becomes too toxic. In a society where parents, even lawyers and other professionals, grow drugs in their homes, no child is safe.

Every drug, be they illegal, legal or prescription, has side effects. Alcohol is a depressant, meth an upper, marijuana equals paranoia. Each one alone is capable of damage to the receptor sites of the brain, damage that causes destructive behavior.

Our children suffer the consequences of drug abuse. Children are born damaged by the drugs used by their parents, leaving them emotionally, intellectually and, yes, physically challenged. These young people often become unmanageable in classrooms and go on to abuse their children and other innocents of our communities.

After living in an addicted family, and being an addictions counselor for 13-plus years, I beg you, give up the denial and stop the ignorance of enabling the drug use of those we love.

Sister Julie Wokasch

Spokane