Gov. Larry Hogan's focus on addressing the heroin epidemic ("Hogan creates two panels for fight against heroin," Feb. 25) is a testimony that the scourge of heroin and other substance addictions has garnered bipartisan concern. The next public policy strategy should translate this realization in to greater access to treatment, more targeted public awareness campaigns and increased cooperation between law enforcement, health care and mental health care providers and community leaders.
The efforts by Governor Hogan and others need to focus on teens and young adults. The Maryland Addiction Recovery Center's December, 2014 analysis shows that heroin is now one of the top five drugs abused by teens.
Policymakers now are more aware of the research and evaluation findings from the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Addiction is a disease. Heroin, alcohol, and other drugs hijack the abuser's brain. Addiction is not an ongoing moral failure or the consequence of poor character.
The good news is that treatment works and people can recover. Last Nov. 11, I celebrated my 32nd anniversary of being sober and drug-free. Effective treatment and recovery is not always easy, but it is achievable and can be sustained.
Don Mathis, Havre de Grace
The writer is director of alumni services at Father Martin's Ashley.