Pubdate: Sat, 26 Mar 2016
Source: Day, The (New London,CT)
Copyright: 2016 Associated Press
Contact:  http://www.theday.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/293
Authors: Lisa Marie Pane and Emily Swanson, Associated Press

POLL: NOT ENOUGH BEING DONE TO FIGHT DRUG USE

Sharon Johnson calls herself an addict, although she's been sober for 
three years now. She started by smoking pot and eventually moved to 
crack cocaine. Her daughter has tried heroin and "I believe I'm going 
to pull her out of the gutter someday," Johnson laments.

Johnson has seen firsthand the ravages of drug abuse reflected in a 
national Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research 
poll. Whether it's alcohol or illegal drugs such as heroin and 
cocaine, a majority of Americans say it's a problem and that more 
needs to be done to address it.

Johnson, 56, of Lynn, Mass., said she doesn't believe any drug should 
be legalized and believes more needs to be done to crack down on 
dealers. She goes to Narcotics Anonymous meetings every Thursday and 
sees too many of her companions there relapsing and dying from drug 
use. Still, she considers treatment the best option for users rather 
than prosecution.

"To lock someone up for using, it's not going to solve anything. 
They're going to rebel," Johnson, a poll respondent, told the AP in a 
follow-up interview. "For dealers, in my eyes, they should be locked up."

The poll found that most Americans - 62 percent - said that at least 
one type of substance use was a serious problem in their communities. 
That included alcohol, marijuana, heroin, cocaine, meth and 
prescription pills. Some 43 percent said they have a relative or 
close friend with substance abuse issues. Seven in 10 Americans 
believe not enough is being done to find better addiction treatment 
or to make treatment programs more accessible in their communities.
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