Here is a politician’s quote to deal with overdoses in Massachusetts rural towns: “The three hardest words for any human being to say are also three of the most courageous words, ‘I need help’” (state Sen. John Velis, D-Westfield). This is a statement made at a Russell town hall to deal with possible opioid deaths in rural towns. The roundtable meeting had state legislators, recovery coaches, and local people who are impacted by these overdoses. Sen. Velis went on to say, “And when an individual raises their hands and says, ‘I need help,’ it’s the system’s job, I would argue, to be there to meet that hand. And that’s what today was about, and that’s what any bill will be about.” That = $$$.
What a politician will never say is, what happened to make them fall into this problem? What did your parents, your spouse, your children, or your friends do or not do that could have helped you? What a politician will almost always say is it’s “the system’s job” to correct the problem. No politician will question the first and best line of help, the family structure, because those words may insult the impacted people sitting face to face at the roundtable, and they are voters who are a potential lost vote, which is much worse than a lost son, daughter or parent. The family structure is the key. Ask the surviving family or friend: “What did you notice about their behavior change?” “What did they tell you when you asked them what was wrong?” “When they said nothing is wrong, what did you do?”
Throwing money at a problem is always a politician’s favorite answer. Sen. Velis said the lack of reliable transportation in rural areas and lack of medical specialists in rural areas needs more funding. Massachusetts has incoming taxation revenue problems. Massachusetts has incoming right-to-shelter problems. Massachusetts has a solid Democratic Statehouse that has no answers that can’t be solved but for the lack of more and more money. Family structure is the least expensive and best possible solution for a cure, but the hardest for us to speak? The speaking of such a statement is dangerous politically, and a politician will not dare go there. Party politics before possible working solutions rules the day.
