The impact of addiction on family & community
I read about two local thefts in this morning’s paper. These stories reminded me how we often overlook many of the ways in which addiction affects family and community. In one story, police arrested a Lower Salford man for stealing jewelry and watches from his mother. He later admitted to the crime and stated that he had planned to sell the items for drug money. In another story, police arrested a man for stealing piping from restaurant bathrooms throughout Montgomery County. In court, the man admitted he sold the piping as scrap metal and used the proceeds to purchase drugs.
In one story, a mother is victimized by her son. In the other, local businesses suffer at the hand of an individual. Tax dollars were spent to arrest, try, and prosecute these individuals, affecting the entire community. We often overlook how addiction-related crimes affect us all. Sadly, addiction-related crime is commonplace, and many times the outcomes of these crimes are more severe than property loss.
At The Council, we provide programs, services, and resources to reduce the impact of addiction on family and community. To learn more about these issues, visit our blog regularly, or subscribe to our newsletters. And please use our free and confidential help line (phone and email) to get help for you or someone you know.
