Drug use condoned

Don't miss today's article on the front page of the Northwest Herald about drugs in the schools.

Is it any wonder that kids do drugs?

The article starts with "He knows he probably shouldn't have...". Give me a break. He ('Dan") knew he shouldn't have. Period. And he got some Adderall from a classmate for a little "boost" to his concentration for studying.

Pretty close to a Lance Armstrong attitude; right? Whatever it takes to do better.

So not only was what Dan did wrong, it was risky. He didn't know what effect the drug would have on him. He actually didn't even know that his buddy was selling him Adderal.

And how did his buddy get along without his own prescribed use of the drug? Where was his doctor in all this? How did Dan's buddy explain running out of Adderall early? How much of his monthly prescription did Dan's buddy peddle?

I'm sure Rick Atwater, Karla Steingraber, Jeff Puma and Connee Meschini are very nice people. But when are they going to take a hard line on illegal drug use with their clients and students?

How nice that Atwater "set up" Dan with the reporter. Presumably Dan is at least 18 (an adult) now. Is he still using drugs illegally? Is Atwater treating Dan for drug addiction now? If not, stay in touch. It won't be long.

The Northwest Herald did a great disservice to its readers and the overall community with this article.

How many readers will stick with the article all the way to the end, where Dan says "I probably should have never took it."

So, Doctors, count the pills in the bottles at the monthly med checks and keep track of those kids who are "always short". And do the lab work regularly to check for the expected therapeutic levels.