Regarding you recent article about the epidemic of heroin and other opiates in Maryland, I understand your job is to report the news and that the rising death toll is indeed news ("Health officials try accommodating rather than punishing heroin addicts," June 11).
But their are also just as many stories of hope. Constant reminders of the numbers of people dying do not help our fight against the disease of addiction.
It can leave addicts feeling more helpless and families more afraid, which in turn causes them to enable their loved ones.
As a large media outlet, your paper can inspire the hope I believe our community needs. I have been clean for over two years and am surrounded every day by hundreds of success stories.
As large as our drug community has become, our recovery community is even stronger and I feel this needs to be noted.
Michael Bassler, Jarrettsville