Former First Lady Nancy Reagan was laid to rest last week, amid glowing tributes and remembrances from dignitaries across the nation. However, this being the modern era, her death also sparked criticisms, like this one that argued her “Just Say No” anti-drug initiative was a failure. Not only did it create hysteria and lead to…
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Third of three parts I was so captivated by the talk by Sam Quinones, author of Dreamland: The True Tale of America’s Opiate Epidemic, that when the moderator opened the floor for questions, I was the first to the microphone. Like many others in the crowd at Marshall University’s student center, drugs have had a…
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Second of three parts In my last post I mentioned how Sam Quinones, the author of Dreamland: The True Tale of America’s Opiate Epidemic, kept the attention of a capacity crowd recently at Marshall University. I think one reason is the fascinating details he revealed about the legwork and research that went into his book.…
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A recent TV news story about a break-in at an area business had a familiar feel to it, until the owner talked about the impact of drugs, the root cause of so much crime. He mentioned the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945 and compared the drug situation there to that devastated Japanese city.…
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By Ken Walker – After weighing in recently on the folly of legalizing marijuana sales, I observed a spate of new news stories about pot, including the state of Washington’s initial foray into retail marijuana sales. Although Washington was supposed to issue up to 20 retail license this week, on the eve of this step…
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By Ken Walker – My wife and I recently attended the graduation ceremony for nine men who had completed a drug treatment program that lasted anywhere from 12 to 18 months, depending on their circumstances. The most fascinating story came from the man who wound up living on the streets because of his addiction. Desperate,…
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