Regarding the article, “Apple box full of meth worth $100K seized by detectives”: Isn’t it time we quit reporting on the fact that “the supply of meth and heroin out there seems to be unprecedented” (that’s the symptom/effect) and have a real, honest public discussion about why there is so much drug activity? The simple economics of it is that without demand the supply would dry up.

It costs a lot to manufacture, transport and distribute the product and the possibility of arrest and jail/prison is real — why are the “bad people” willing to take the chance? Because the return-on-investment is very high, you say; it’s all about the money. Why are people willing to pay the price to access the product? Because addicts need the product and are willing to do nearly anything (including stealing cars, property, etc.) to acquire the funds to buy what they need? Why are there addicts; how and why did they get that way? They had a choice and made a bad one? Why did they make that choice and “did” they indeed have a realistic choice?

Do you see where we’re going here? The recent call for a two-tenths of 1 percent increase in our county sales tax is primarily to pay for the additional law, justice and corrections personnel and equipment deemed necessary to address the heroin/drug “epidemic” — that’s money being spent on the symptoms/effects end of that supply and demand dynamic. Until we as a community address the why of the demand end of the situation, there will be no end to the supply pouring into our region. Why should it cease if the demand continues? Let’s get real and address the real, root causes of the demand for use of a product that helps people escape reality. Shouldn’t we address that reality and try to understand what we need to do to change it in ways that will not drive good people to want to escape from it?!

Jim Bloss

Monroe