Who'll pay the costs of crack?
Stan Swofford spent several months reporting on the devastating human and financial costs of crack in our community, which we published Sunday through Tuesday. It was a powerful series of stories, stories that caused city and county politicians to talk about what role they want to play in addressing the problems.
Not surprisingly, the politicians don't agree. Readers, though, are clear on the problems. Stan has gotten dozens of notes. Here are a few:
"I wanted to write and thank you for writing the article on crack cocaine. Our community doesn't realize what people go through on that stuff. I am 21 years old and this December I will be clean two years. My ex-boyfriend introduced me to the drug. I smoked day and night for three months. I got beat and raped by him it seemed like almost every night. Finally, the day that I escaped he held a knife to my throat and was going to kill me. He ended up falling asleep and I was able to sneak out and go to my mother. I had to go to the hospital and have all my bruises looked at because they were very bad. My left thigh was one big bruise. He had hit me in my head like 20 times in one beating and he tried to kill me several times but luckily he let me live. I lived in my own literal personal hell. I just think that it is really great that someone is trying to reach out to the community about this. One day I would like to speak out about my experience so that maybe I could help someone. Anyways, thank you."
"Thank you for showing the human side of addiction. Because addicts were babies, children that choose to try crack and they can't ever imagine the horror, pain and destruction that one choice would create. My husband struggles with addictions and has off and on for years. I just wanted to say thank you from the bottom of my heart and I praise you and the News & Record for allowing this series to be done and for it to take first page.
"There could never be enough written. I so desperately want to do something to fight what is ultimately a war on our children, families, individuals, jobs, just every aspect of life you could possibly imagine drugs destroy. I am going to go back through the articles and see if I could find a way to help but if there is anything I can do to help fight this war please let me know."
"Excellent article. Thanks for writing it. One note, you quote Susan Mills that it is not a problem just in the black community, yet most of the references are in the black community. I know that crack is just as prevalent in the white community, it is just covered up better. At any rate, it is a huge problem and I thank you for writing about it."
Let's hope it makes a difference.
