Wyoming Constitution; Article 1, Section 24...The right of citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and of the state shall not be denied.

 

 

 

February 11, 2005

 

 

            The issue of drug use and abuse is one that our culture and society have failed miserably to address, and that failure shows little sign of abating anytime soon. The legislative attitude once again shows that it has a difficult time taking an honest look at the root of the problem, and crafting a progressive solution.

 

            The moral/religious aspect does some real harm in this area, because it gets in the way of an objective assessment of the problem. Consider the drug alcohol as an example. Years ago, alcoholics were seen in a very bad moral light, why don’t those sinners just quit drinking was generally the question.

 

            Over time we have seen a social shift in our views concerning alcoholism, most people now see it as an addiction that can and should be treated, not as a moral failing. Alcoholics are not sinners, they are addicts, isn’t that right?

 

            So why are methamphetamine addicts considered so differently from alcohol addicts? Alcohol has been ruining families for years, contributing to domestic violence and child abuse and neglect. For 100 years, the culture of the State of Wyoming has ignored, condoned and enabled the great drug alcohol, but when it comes to other substances the attitude is very different. Is that a good thing?

 

            There is no doubt that meth is a major problem, and action needs to be taken, but hype and hysteria has never solved any social problem. The question is whether or not the traditional thinkers in charge can address the problem in a realistic way. Are we going to emphasize the incarceration angle, or will we push the treatment angle? What about the education angle? Some progress has been made, but there is a long way to go.

 

            House Bill #308-Methamphetamine initiative gives a bit of a clue to that question. The bill is mostly about creating additional funding flows from the state level to the local level, funneling the money through the Governor’s Advisory Board on Substance Abuse and Violent Crime.

 

Here is the link................

 

http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2005/Engross/HB0308.pdf

 

            The funding ratio in the bill gives an indication as to the relative value of incarceration versus treatment. On page 2 there is an appropriation of 2 million dollars for local treatment programs. On page 3 there is an appropriation of 5 million dollars for additional funding for local law enforcement efforts.

 

            Considering the lack of long-term treatment facilities for meth addicts, and the current level of funding for John Law, it seems to me that those amounts should be reversed. Or perhaps all the cash should be available for additional treatment facilities.

 

            Treatment on demand is a key part of the solution to the meth problem in Wyoming. When the system provides enough funding for enough treatment beds, and all the associated costs, then we will see progress being made.

 

Much more on this later!

 

Keith