"The Web of Addiction"

[beamer_ball]

Coal Miners in Western Va. Caught in Widening Cycle of Painkiller Abuse
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...l?hpid=topnews

[retiredteach]

This is what makes me angry when outside folks come in to do a story. I am sure all these facts are accurate, but whose fault is it when one gains an addiction? Why not show some of better things from the area instead of focusing on the negative. Every city has drug problems also. Life Magazine came in here in the 60's and did a story and took pictures of the coke ovens and tipples in Norton and that was all. Makes me angry.

[Biggin]

dude, thats a great article showing the dangers of this area.

its focusing on people trying to get help.

i thought you had more sense than that teach

[R0cketer]

A great article? Wait, you mean to tell me there are people with addictions here? Oh no!!!!!!

It's a good article in that it does a good job of explaining some of the problems, but you want to tell me there aren't people walking the streets of DC who have similar stories? Wow those hick rednecks in SWVA sure are a useless. Uneducated and now they all are addicts, and they want the state to help them get roads, business, etc. It be best if we just blew up the main roads out of the area and just kept them all there where they couldn't influence the big city.

I see the good elements in the article but I also see what Retiredteach said. Every time there is is anything about this area, it's the bad side. I know crap sells, but it never fails to annoy me. When the news comes into any of our small towns, they never talk to the person who has some education and can speak in complete sentences. They talk to Earl, who has more kids than teeth, attended school for 2 weeks but didn't see the point of all them there book things. It's a continuation of the stereotype.

[Biggin]

are you serious?

they did it on this area, because there are more ODs in this area than murders/alcoholic related accidents combined, and more in this little area than the rest of VA.

[Diets17]

When I read about stuff like this it just makes me shake my head. Does anyone believe that "the war on drugs" has actually sorta caused this problem while wasting tax payer money? I mean, prescription drug abuse, sorting pills, addicts stealing pills from the elderly, friends, family, what have you. I mean, I don't know how many people Ive seen go to walmart just to buy computer duster, or whatever its called to get high on. It makes me sick. End the war on drugs, ITS NOT WORKING and its wasting our money. Legalize weed for God Sakes. They've done studies you know, its not really harmful, and not addictive. Its a better alternative. I mean, how many cases have you heard of someone OD'ing on weed? Its a damn shame that a miracle from God, can not be used because a bunch of lawmakers from 40 to 50 years ago thought it too harmful. Did they know what was in store in the future of the country? Though we have chemically engineered drugs now, which is big American business.