Years ago, when we were innocent, drug abuse and addiction was something only a few families dealt with. Those families who did deal with the issue firsthand, did so in the privacy of their our homes.

But in this day and age of high media publicity, actors, political figures and other high profile Americans openly share their problems with the world, making drugs and alcohol glamourous to general public.

Marijuana and alcohol used to be the biggest of our problems, but that has changed and the drugs of choice are easier to get than most of us would like to admit. Heroin and Methamphetamine use and overdose is rampant and on the rise; and people from all walks of life are abusing prescription drugs at an alarming rate.

With drug arrests are dominating our headlines and court dockets, it is clear that law enforcement officers are doing their best to wage war on the delivery of controlled substances. But as long as we, the public, turn a blind eye to the problem by refusing to give notice to neighbors, children and family members who have fallen into victim to this lifestyle, we don’t stand a chance.

Thankfully, we all have an opportunity to take part in the war on drugs with a series of prevention meetings scheduled on our home turf in the coming week. Sponsored by the Family Resource Network, the Prevention Partnership will give residents the opportunity to speak out against prescription drug addiction and how it effects our county.

If you have ideas, opinions or comments to share, please plan to attend one of the three meetings.

The first meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, July 26 in the multi-purpose room on the campus of Paden City High School. Subsequent meetings will be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 27 in the basement of the Tyler county Senior Center in Middlebourne and at 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 29 at the Sistersville Volunteer Fire Department.

Please join in this community-wide effort to combat the infiltration of drugs in Tyler County.