David Day doesn’t know what to do about his drug-addict son. Most of us wouldn’t. Where does someone learn about how to handle that? The internet? With all the misinformation floating around there? Day came forward with his story to make sure the community discussion on drugs does not end. We agree.

There has been a lot going on recently regarding this plight.

School Resource Officer Chris Sutherland came forward about similar issues with his son. Both Arlington and Marysville have had numerous information forums on this area’s increasing drug problem, especially with opioids.

Police in both cities talk about the need to keep addicts out of jail and get help from social services instead. But the discussions need to continue.

There needs to be more information on what parents should do if their child is an addict. Both Day and Sutherland talked about not knowing for sure when “tough love” is needed and when they should help, but not “enable.”

Day also mentioned how expensive many of the drug treatment and rehabilitation centers are. He went so far as to say he wished billionaire Bill Gates would donate a few million dollars to the cause.

We feel the best way to solve the drug problem is to keep kids from starting to use in the first place. People start for many different reasons, but the problem is once they do, it is so hard to stop on their own. The old Drug Assistance Resistance Education program apparently was ineffective, but at least kids at that time were educated about the issue. If they decided to use at least they were ignorant about the consequences.

Locally, our SRO’s are working with kids at an individual level, but they can’t get to them all.

Peer pressure can be affective in getting kids to try drugs. But many try them for other reasons, including because they are bored or curious or they feel indestructible. We need to teach them better so they won’t try for any reason.

Kids’ brains are like sponges. They can absorb information. Society needs to absorb them with anti-drug messages before their bloodstreams start absorbing drugs.