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Dear J.T.,
In spite of all of the efforts by addiction
treatment professionals to educate the media and
the public which the media is supposed to serve,
this type of prejudicial reporting persists. Over
3 years ago I responded to a similiar question,
also from a Teaneck reader. In my reply, I wrote:
"You have every reason to question the slant
of these stories in the media. The facts belie
the impression that this is, somehow, an affliction
that only affects certain ethnic groups. Addiction
is an "equal opportunity disease." ....responsible
reporting should emphasize this fact as too many
suburban Caucasian parents have the false impression
that they and their children are less likely than
others to fall victim to addiction. As a matter
of fact, several years ago, I was appeared on
a segment of The Oprah Winfrey Show which was
devoted entirely to the huge drug problems that
we are facing with suburban white youth.....I
said then...... and I repeat my constant theme
of this column....it is a major problem right
here in our suburban school districts and more
and more of our Boards of Education...under the
guise of 'saving money,' are cutting down or essentially
eliminating drug prevention activities in our
schools. "The media, as a matter of fact,
is only giving half of the story.... for example,the
ratio of white Americans who use cocaine or its
derivatives compared to blacks is 9-to-1.
"That
a disproportionate number of whites actually constitutes
the bulk of crack or powdered cocaine users doesn't
seem to stop television news directors from showing
a lopsided proportion of blacks being arrested
whenever the story has to do with any illicit
drug.
"Surveys
from the National Institute on Drug Abuse show
that of the 22 million cocaine users, 19 million
are white....and male, mostly, 18-34 years old.
Furthermore, studies have also shown that 10 years
after graduating from high school, blacks have
far lower rates for cocaine use than whites. To
quote one media executive, 'The data is clear,
consistent and unambiguous.....it's America's
dirty little secret.'
"I
believe, with him, that America is losing the
drug war because the white majority is ignoring
who the real drug users are. Perhaps we should
pay attention to the white customers ....the doctors,
lawyers, dentists, business men, teachers and
, yes, including our white, suburban teenagers....who
drop into African-American neighborhoods to buy
cocaine, heroin and crack .... then leave the
troubles behind...... they are just as responsible
for the murder and mayhem on the streets as are
the persons actually committing the drug-related
violence.
"Hopefully,
these comments will help some readers to open
their eyes to the fact that far too many Bergen
County residents who live in our mostly white
towns are actively involved in keeping the "dirty
little secret" secret. Just ask the police
who patrol the bridges and tunnels and, while
you are at it, ask them how many of those who
are caught are white kids, who are returning from
the New York ghettos where they bought drugs to
sell at a profit to white fellow students in our
"drug free" suburban schools."
Some
things are worth repeating in the faint hope that
the media will stop finger pointing and take a
closer look at the real problem :.... the BUYERS
and the USERS....mostly white Caucasians.
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