A Reason for Concern

A couple months ago, on a national news program, it was stated that rural America was being targeted by drug cartels to help spread the use of a new cheaper type of heroin. They showed a map of the states being targeted. There were several across the country, including Wisconsin. I realize that, when it comes to small towns, drugs are nothing new, but this highly addictive drug is being given to kids in exchange for their lunch money — or for no payment at all. Dealers know they expand their customer base once a kid takes that first hit. The feature article in today's Wisconsin State Journal, Dane County's Deadliest Drug, talks about the consequences of having this drug in the area. Mike Florek, the founder of Tellurian, a nonprofit organization that treats alcohol and drug abusers, and people suffering from mental health issues, says that it used to be that maybe 5 to 10 percent of people seeking help were there because of heroin but now it is nearly 50 percent. That's a little unsettling, don't you agree? It seems that the drug cartels may be succeeding. I don't know about you, but, for me, that's reason for concern.