Drug Dealers, Violence, Untreated Addiction.....

It is just really really frustrating to continue to view the total denial in our state, more especially in New Orleans. If our officials at the state and national level don't "get it" then how are those living in need of treatment and recovery (addicts) going to ever find anything but despair?

New Orleans, the Gulf Coast in general remains in a state of struggle, hope, despair, and trauma- folks coming home, trying to come home, those here trying to help others, it is a trying time for many. Trauma we are told leads to much greater alcohol/other drug abuse-addiction.
For some, those who sell these drugs, it is an oppurtunity to set up shop and make money- sadly tragic and violent crime is emerging, and there is little doubt as to where this problem is rooted.

The federal government tells us that characteristics of those most likely to develop addiction problems. As an HHS report states, "Those who live in poverty are also exposed to other adverse conditions, including availability of drugs, lack of legitimate opportunity, alienation and hopelessness."
Drug dealers have no customers when addicts find help. Today the focus has got to find a new direction -New Orleans can pave the way for all areas in our state. Most everyone has heard about the weekend's tragic loss of life, 5 young men, in New Orleans, out late and gunned down in what police are describing as a "drug related" violent act.

Everyone sees this as crime, open/closed right? Wrong.

Drug related crime will not subside with the National Guard, Army, Police, etc if addiction goes untreated in New Orleans. Drug Dealers need customers, untreated addiction is where real money is gained by dealers. Dealers can't deal when addicts recover.

We have done almost all you can imagine in this state related to drugs/crime etc--except the one proven way to reduce the demand for drugs and therefore the dealers--reaching out to the shamed, stigmatized, and demoralized addicts/alcoholics in this state and most especially in New Orleans.

Crime has been fought in New Orleans for years, while the root cause too often goes unnoticed, or with little comprehensive response--real and effective is very different that simply "taking anything out there" we need medical detox in New Orleans at present there are no medical detox beds to replace those once at Charity Hospital, we need real and effective treatment and recovery support services regardless of where they come from--we need them.

Why are drug dealers going home? Why return?

Trauma is good for business there is little doubt, one can't help wonder as the nations leader in state locking up their citizens if others also win when we continue to neglect the addicts who must find help to recover in this state.