Pubdate: Thu, 12 Nov 2015
Source: Trentonian, The (NJ)
Copyright: 2015 The Trentonian
Contact:  http://www.trentonian.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1006
Author: L.A. Parker

SUBURBAN DRUG USE DRIVES ENGINE FOR URBAN DRUG DEALERS, VIOLENCE AND DEATH

Recent heroin drug busts in Trenton underscored a standard 
relationship between drug dealer and drug addict.

The great truth regarding heroin sales shows that urban area drug 
problems are directly connected to suburban drug users.

One Trentonian photo in October highlighted this drug exchange theme 
as arrested city resident Jaishawn Mathis, who is black, faced heroin 
possession and distribution offenses.

Astonishment existed that Mathis, who had allegedly been shot a month 
before his arrest (nothing personal just part of street business), 
had stepped back out on the city's drug playing field. His 
determination highlights the grab for suburban dollars as those 
residents find heroin here then hustle back to their bedrooms and dens.

Regarding the Mathis arrest, police charged two Caucasian buyers, 
David Harmon and Anthony Rongo, Jr., with heroin possession. They 
were released until a court date while Mathis faced a $75,000 cash 
bail. Mind you, any person of any color who comes to Trenton and gets 
caught will likely walk away with a future court date appearance.

They are travelers in the pipeline that exists between most major 
urban areas and neighboring suburbs where residents have the means to 
keep in business city drug operations.

Trenton police last week ended a five-month investigation with 
arrests of Javar Kidd, Jontaya Pringle and Sharon McRae, all African 
American and charged with both possession and distribution offenses.

A Mercer County Narcotics Task Force with assistance from the New 
Jersey State Police Crime Suppression Central Unit helped in raids 
that confiscated marijuana, cash and more than 1400 decks of heroin. 
Law enforcement officers invaded three Trenton residences during this exercise.

In June, Camden police and other law enforcement agencies executed a 
sting for heroin users near Barring and Chestnut streets. Police 
arrested 41 people on drug possession charges.

Four Camden residents were arrested while the remainder came from 
surrounding suburban towns such as Audubon, Pennasuken, Voorhees, 
Bellmawr, Lumberton, Wenonah and Haddonfield.

This supply and demand arrangement enhances the presence of drug 
caches, guns and violence on Trenton streets. Still, suburban users 
with money face the dangers that come with coming to Trenton, plus, 
the death that ties to drug abuse.

While inner-city drug dealers receive the brunt of news coverage and 
punishment, a real face of heroin abuse connects with Caucasians.

"If you're driving through some parts of Trenton and see a white 
girl, she's not there looking for employment," Kevin Meara, a 
Hamilton councilman offered. "There is a supply and demand situation 
going on and there's no doubt that suburban buyers drive the Trenton 
drug market."

Meara's son, K.C. died from a heroin drug overdose.

"And while we were angry about the drug dealer who sold him the 
heroin, bottom line, there's always going to be a person waiting in 
the wings to take over for the person who gets busted for selling 
drugs. We have to look for alternative ways to fight drug addiction," 
Meara noted.

Certainly, like early education to learn about drug addiction. Plus, 
most parents could use a tutorial on what to look for regarding drug 
use by their children.

And, way before prescription pills became the fashionable 
conversation, Mick Jagger and the Stones sang "Mother's Little 
Helper" in 1966 while Jefferson Airplane's Grace Slick belted out 
"White Rabbit" a psychedelic trip with Alice in Wonderland.

Our nation's drug culture offers nothing new as people will seek 
escape routes from society for myriad reasons. No doubt we need 
better initiatives to deal with drug use and drug addiction, instead 
of imprisonment.

However, communities, schools, cities and towns must understand the 
clear and present danger of drug addiction and alcohol abuse. 
Addiction plays no favorites. Heroin and other drugs, especially 
opioids, do not employ discrimination. They take sons of politicians 
and daughters of the most ruthless people walking Mother Earth.

While we see the faces of drug dealers, predominantly black, we 
rarely see the faces of those people being placed into coffins 
because they came to Trenton for a fix. This capital city may receive 
criticism about drugs but honestly, Hamilton, Lawrence, Princeton, 
Ewing, etc all have serious drug problems.

Currently, drugs make their way into surrounding towns in the pockets 
of users but history assures that eventually drug dealers will move 
out to the suburbs. They set up inconspicuously in an apartment or 
house and live quiet suburban lives.

Television romanticized the hell out of drug dealing with the 
acclaimed series "Breaking Bad" as teacher Walter White, diagnosed 
with incurable cancer, deals crystallized methamphetamine to assure 
his family stays afloat after his death.

Drug addiction and all its accompaniments is not some perfectly 
penned line by a screenwriter that garners an Emmy Award. Drug 
addiction and abuse drops people into hell holes and most who hit 
rock bottom never climb up or out whether they live in U.S. urban 
areas or suburbs.

Sure, we should express joy when police bust drug dealers but real 
victory tethers to education, rehabilitation and admission that 
Mercer County has a serious drug problem.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom