Northeast Philadelphia residents discuss opioids, city government and politics in this week’s letters to the editor.
Let’s end opioid abuse
On July 4, millions of Americans will come together to celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence, a historic testimonial against oppression that still inspires people around the world.
Today, millions of Americans are confronting another kind of oppression — opioid addiction. At Relievus, we see the effects of this horrible epidemic every day. It has destroyed families, ruined lives and even led to a historic decrease in lifespan among sectors of the U.S. population.
According to recent reports, in 2016, 11.5 million people misused prescription opioids, while over 42,000 died from an opioid overdose. Roughly 40 percent of those deaths involved a prescription opioid. But the impact isn’t limited to opioid abusers. Another report puts the economic impact of each opioid overdose death at approximately $800,000.
It’s important to understand that people who abuse opioids are not weak or inferior. They simply are people trying to deal with their pain. Eventually, this pain becomes difficult to manage until it begins affecting their quality of life.
Weaning patients off opioids is an important step. But managing pain takes an intense, multi-faceted approach. Most need social support, behavioral therapy and/or individual counseling. They cannot do it alone. It will take a united and coordinated front.
On this Fourth of July, let us reignite the spirit of American courage and community. Let us work to create a new dawn of independence from the oppression caused by the abuse of opioids and other drugs.
Dr. Young J. Lee
Relievus
Idiots are running the city
Breaking news from Philadelphia. We have a bunch of idiots working in City Hall, starting with the №1 idiot, Mayor Kenney.
He keeps asking for more and more taxes, but his lack of financial control also shows a blatant disrespect for our money. After the loss of $33 million that they can’t find, now the city controller states there is $924 million in bookkeeping errors.
We the people of Philadelphia should insist, before City Council passes any tax increases, they prove they can balance the books in their house.
Wise up, people, we need a complete change of government in Philadelphia.
Bernice Capobianco
Rhawnhurst
Brendan Boyle bill is bad
In response to an article, Boyle aims to change Election Day nationwide, that was published in the Northeast Times on June 13:
So the Honorable Brendan Boyle wants to change what day everyone gets to go out and vote to the weekend. Are you changing it to Sunday, Mr. Boyle, or is it to be Saturday, so patriot, veteran, Sabbath-observant Jews like me can’t go vote?
Great way to make sure that the Orthodox who don’t vote Democrat can’t vote against the Dems.
Maybe we should have to send in an absentee ballot when the poll is two blocks away and hope it gets filled out right to be counted.
What the hell were you thinking? Obviously, you weren’t, since that garbage just alienates a section of the population. Not some moronic race-card issue so popular with the politically correct, watch-the-media-to-show-me-what-to-be-offended-by crowd.
We’re not a race. We’re a nation that comes in all races. It’s in the book. I used to support you, but no more.
Oh, wait, if you have your way, I won’t be able to vote anyhow.
Hezakiah Levinson
Rhawnhurst
Editor’s note: Boyle’s legislation would officially change Election Day nationwide to the weekend after the first Friday in November, with voting on both Saturday and Sunday.
Murt stands up for victims
Thank you to Rep. Tom Murt for courageously standing up for victims of child sexual abuse.
This issue is back in the news, and some legislators are calling for reforms in the statute of limitations, so that the victims have more time to hold their abusers accountable. Sadly, only a few courageous state representatives actually had the intestinal fortitude to publicly call for these changes, and only one is from our area.
Rep. Tom Murt was also the only Republican in the entire legislature who showed up at a recent news conference to speak about justice for victims of child sexual abuse. Other legislators ought to take Murt’s example and bravely do the right thing like he has this time and in so many other cases in the past.
Steve Peters
Lansdale
