Families of Youth with Substance Use Addiction Second Day

A study shows alcohol commercials and movie scenes influence drinking

JoinTogether.org provided that link.

We heard today that there are exactly ZERO dollars in the 2009 stimulus bill for substance use addiction treatment. What was the final total $870 BILLION--- A Trillion dollars and not a nickle for substance use addiction? Once again our words say one thing and our actions prove another.

Parents at this conference have impressive attitudes. These are people who raised to believe doing right things... praying, meditating, would help keep their children safe. They trusted our government's promise to care about America's children was real. First they discovered when they needed help there were no resources, no understanding, no compassion. In fact, the best Uncle Sam would do was arrest their child with a charge of some violation of a get tough law. Treatment for addiction is simple--make the addict a criminal. After the government showed its true face, God was next to dissapoint. What parent didn't learn at an early age to pray to God for the well being of loved ones? My prayer went something like: "Dear God, thank you for my children. Please keep them safe through the day and at night. Amen." That should do it. Wrong. Uncle Sam told us he cared and showed us he doesn't. God never promised us freedom from death, but the expectation was reasonable for children, wasn't it?

The landscape in the United States favors the alcohol and pharmacutical industries. Top to bottom these people have friends who vote. Barriers to dumping their wares where we live are eliminated by politicians. Truth in advertising doesn't pertain to producers of intoxicants and pharmacuticals.

A suggestion was made today to fund treatment with dollars raised in taxing the companies who advertise alcohol and drugs. The excited cheers and supportive laughter said plenty. No one is asking for restitution. I think they are in favor of the contributors to their children's darkest days and deaths stepping up to join them in being part of a solution.

There is no possible way these industries can deny their advertising and entertainment marketing has a positive correlation to drinking. But, you know they will try.