Not Just Heroin Kills, All Drugs Kill, By Cary Quashen

Posted by: KHTS FM 98.1 & AM 1220 in Families in Action - Cary Quashen July 8, 2014 - 9:00 am 0 145 Views

By: Cary Quashen | Action Family Counseling

Quoted in Shakespeare and again in 1913 by Gertrude Stein said “a rose is a rose is a rose is a rose.” That saying then morphed into, “a rose is a rose is a rose and by any other name it would still be a rose.”

By now you are asking why I am quoting Shakespeare and Stein. Simply to get a point across, the point being the names of things do not matter, only what they are.

Fast forward and in our society we attach names to all things as a means of labeling thoughts, ideas, situations, outcomes and life itself.

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But sometimes we get so caught up in labeling situations we can’t see the broader perspective and often focus in on one part of the problem. Here in the Santa Clarita Valley teams of people have done a valiant job addressing drug addiction in our community, but during the past few years have focused intently on heroin because of resurgence of heroin as a drug of choice for many, many reasons.

From Action Family Counsel Drug and Alcohol Treatment Programs, the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department, the City of Santa Clarita, The William S. Hart Union High School District, KHTS AM 1220, the Signal Newspaper and scores of others have sent the message that the drug heroin kills.

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But somehow we have forgotten in our efforts to education the community that heroin kills, that ALL DRUGS KILL. I’ll say it again, ALL DRUGS KILL Tobacco, marijuana, prescription drugs, alcohol, methamphetamines, cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, bath salts, just to name a few kill.

Because it’s time to remind the community that all drugs kill, not just heroin, and in an effort to continually re-educate the community, the next four weeks, the Action Families In Action radio show will focus on re-educating listeners about drugs, the effects of a particular drug, and more importantly how to combat that drug use, especially if you have a teenager.

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I often hear people say with regard to their loved-ones’ addiction, “Thank God it’s only marijuana or alcohol at least it’s not heroin. At least they won’t die.” But they reality is all drugs kill and why should one drug be treated differently than another? Why would anyone condone taking one drug over another? Why are so uncomfortable with the reality that all drugs kill?

Let’s refocus the conversation. Join me on the Families In Action radio show July 7, 14, 21, 28, from 12 Noon to 1:00 p.m. on KHTS Am 1220 and learn why all drugs kill and what we should do about it. Just one hour of education could save the life of a friend, mother, father, child, or co-worker. So let’s get the conversation started.

Cary Quashen is a nationally recognized drug educator and intervention specialist. He is the founder of the Action Family Foundation, Action Parent & Teen Support Group Programs and Action Family Counseling Drug and Alcohol Treatment Programs.

For more information about Action Family Counseling, click here.