Making the most of the "silly season."

By Jeffrey L. Reynolds, Ph.D

This is that time of year when political candidates show up on your doorstep, call you on the phone and send you an endless stream of direct mail touting their accomplishments and aspirations. It’s tempting to tune it all out and become ever-more cynical about politics, but through all the noise and chaos, there’s an opportunity here.

 

The next time you run into a candidate at a street fair or on your porch, take a second to ask them about what they’ve done to address drug and alcohol abuse and what they plan to do to save our kids and improve our communities. Talk with them about underage drinking, prescription misuse and Long Island’s heroin crisis. Educate them and secure a promise that if elected, they’ll join the fight.

 

Here’s a few other questions you might ask them:

 

Have you and will you push for more funding for substance abuse prevention and treatment programs?

 

Will you encourage schools to launch evidence-based K-6 substance abuse prevention programs?

 

Will you use your office as a bully pulpit and host parent forums on substance abuse?

 

How will you address prescription drug misuse and diversion?

 

Do you think we need to do more to address underage drinking? What?

 

Insurance company denials have become a major barrier to detox, inpatient and outpatient treatment services. What are you willing to do to enhance access to care?

 

Use their answers as a voting guide on election day, and tell us what they said so that we can use their answers as a blueprint for the future.