No one cheers the teen who resists the peer pressure they face daily at school, after-school, or at their job. The school counselor or teacher gets no credit for going the extra mile when a student needs guidance. If they are lucky, the student may smile and thank them for their efforts. The church minister faithfully helps find shelter or food for the family rendered homeless by the devastation of substance abuse, knowing he or she will rarely hear gratitude from such a family. The treatment counselor knows the rate of relapse is a relentless tide, yet they fight daily to help individuals get clean and sober.
People don t do prevention because of the potential tangible rewards.
Prevention is a conscious choice of hard work with little or no recognition. But, prevention is the best way to approach the overwhelming problems our community faces with substance abuse, especially abuse of methamphetamine. I am working hard just like so many other caring, knowledgeable individuals and organizations to help prevent the spread of ALL substance abuse in our state. Congressman Hutchinson, by testifying about what I have heard, what I know, and what I have seen, I challenge you to use your heightened knowledge to become proactive.