Howard Meitiner: Let's Hear It for the Governor... and Push Him Further

Howard Meitiner: Let's Hear It for the Governor... and Push Him Further HPFB.init();
HuffPost's QuickRead...ShareBox.ad = function (tag_id){if ($(tag_id) == undefined) return; if ($(tag_id).innerHTML != '') return;ad_spec = {"zone_info": "huffpost.crime","ord": 1344664877,"tile": 3,"width": 300,"height": 250,"el_id": tag_id + "_js","class_name": "ad_block ad_wide top","type": "iframe"}HuffPoUtil.WEDGJE.write(ad_spec, tag_id);};Loading... HuffPost's QuickRead... Loading... CrimeCaught On TapeMickey Shunick MissingPrisons More Log in Create Account Notifications Profile Settings Logout #topnav_margin_btm { margin:0 !important } August 11, 2012 The Internet Newspaper: News, Blogs, Video, Community Edition: U.S. CA Canada  Québec FR France ES Spain US United States UK United Kingdom FRONT PAGEPolitics Romney Wants A Ban On 'Personal' Attack Ads21kObama Leads Romney By 7 Points As Negative Ads Take Toll34kMitt Romney Set To Pick Paul Ryan As Running Mate9kMitt Romney VP Pick Imminent3kReligious Group Slams Romney For Comments Toward The Poor7k Go to Politics More in PoliticsPollster2012 BlogSpeculatronOff The BusElection DashboardYou might also likeWorldGreenBlack VoicesLatino VoicesGay VoicesBusiness The 17 Most-Visited Websites In The World41912 Fictional Products That You Can Now Actually Buy147Feds Accidentally Release Sensitive Data Early1k9 Email Fails Sure To Make Your Coworkers Hate You123Bank Of America Just Lost A $170 Million Customer380 Go to Business More in BusinessSmall BusinessMoneyYou might also likeWorldTechMediaArtsSportsWeird NewsCrimeEntertainment PHOTOS: Did Ann Curry Get Fired Because Of Her Shoes?2kAre Gillian Anderson And David Duchovny Dating? 810SPiN L.A.: Susan Sarandon Has Done It Again124'Willy Wonka' Director Dies At 8319LOOK: The Bluths Are Back! 'Arrested Development' Set Photos28 Go to Entertainment More in EntertainmentCelebrityTVYou might also likeComedyArtsBooksFoodStyleWeird NewsMoviefoneTV 'Paranormal State' Star Diagnosed With Pancreatic Cancer243FIRST LOOK: New & Familiar Faces On 'The Good Wife' Season 4'Revenge' Season 2 Poster Revealed!11PHOTOS: Let's Relive The Fashion From Season 1 Of 'Friends' Gabby Hoffman Would Guest Star On 'Now And Then' TV Show10 Go to TV More in TVTV ReplayTV RecapsTV SpoilersMaureen RyanMaggie FurlongYou might also likeCelebrityMediaComedyArtsBooksWeird News LOOK: Spider Found Living In A Woman's Ear 54212 Fictional Products That You Can Now Actually Buy144DYNAMIC DUO: Conjoined Twins Get Reality Show163LAWSUIT: Breast-feeding Video Sold As Porn186Woman's Skin Condition Makes Her Grow Nails Instead Of Hair307 Go to Weird News More in Weird NewsDumb CrimeUFOWorld RecordsAnatomical WondersZombie ApocalypseOctomomYou might also likeComedyTechScienceCrimeSports U.S. Women's Relay Team SMASHES World Record1kUSA Routs Rival To Reach Gold Medal Game270Bolt 'Lost All Respect' For Carl Lewis2kGolden Redemption! U.S. Women Defeat Japan In Olympic Final1kOUCH! U.S. Runner Finishes Relay On Broken Leg1k Go to Sports More in SportsLondon 2012Olympics Event ScheduleMedal MapYou might also likeTVFoodTechComedyWeird NewsCrimeTech The 17 Most-Visited Websites In The World418PHOTO: Mars Rover Sends Back First Color Panorama5kHel-lo? Woman Charged $31 Every 10 Minutes By Mobile Phone Company2079 Email Fails Sure To Make Your Coworkers Hate You123Apple Will Sell You A Cheaper iPhone -- If You Ask200 Go to Tech More in TechBest of TEDSocial MediaYou might also likeSmall BusinessGreenScienceNew YorkSan FranciscoTechCrunchEngadgetJoystiqScience PHOTO: Mars Rover Sends Back First Color Panorama5kMysterious Blotch On Mars Photo Stirs Debate589WATCH: NASA Prototype Crashes, Explodes In New Video634WOW: Tour Through The Universe In New Video121New Flat-Faced Human Species Possibly Discovered3k Go to Science More in ScienceSpaceBrainEarthTalk Nerdy To MeWeird ScienceYou might also likeTechGreenArtsReligionWeird NewsWorld Chavez Claims U.S. Citizen Arrested For Being Mercenary1kAfghan Police Kill 3 U.S. Soldiers3k14 Bodies Found In Mexican SUV392LOOK: 'It's True! Putin's Afraid Of Pussies!'147Where Does The U.S. Stand In Number Of Executions?453 Go to World More in WorldForeign AffairsWorld ElectionsArab UprisingAfghanistan WarSyria CrisisYou might also likeTravelPoliticsBusinessTechReligionALL SECTIONS NewsPoliticsWorldBusinessSmall BusinessMoneyMediaSportsEducationCrimeWeird NewsGood NewsEntertainmentEntertainmentCelebrityComedyArts & CultureBooksTVMoviefoneLife & StyleHealthy LivingGPS for the SoulStyleFoodKitchen DailyWeddingsTravelParentsDivorceHuff/Post 50StylelistStylelist HomeTech & ScienceTechScienceGreenTechCrunchEngadgetTUAWJoystiqVoicesWomenBlack VoicesLatino VoicesVoces (en español)Gay VoicesReligionCollegeTeenImpactLocalChicagoDCDenverDetroitMiamiNew YorkLos AngelesSan FranciscoPatch.comMapquestAOL Daily FinanceAol JobsAol AutosAutoblogAol MusicAol VideoGames.comHeidi KlumAol ShoppingReal EstateCrimeJames HolmesTrayvon MartinLuka MagnottaJoran van der SlootBath SaltsMissing PeopleMug ShotsDeath PenaltyBizarre WeaponsQuizzes
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Howard MeitinerPresident and CEO, Phoenix House

GET UPDATES FROM Howard Meitiner   Like 23 Let's Hear It for the Governor... and Push Him FurtherPosted: 08/10/2012 4:59 pm React Amazing
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New York is my adoptive home -- and on weeks like this, I'm proud to live in this state. On Tuesday, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo once again displayed great courage and leadership by tackling the sale and production of synthetic drugs. The new legislation expands the state's list of banned substances, making it more difficult for manufacturers to create designer drugs. For the first time, these regulations will allow law enforcement to charge distributors and their employees with possession of illicit substances. In addition, those who violate the rules will now face stiffer penalties.

We at Phoenix House are completely behind the governor's actions. As I've written in the past, synthetic drugs such as "bath salts," K2 and other products are highly dangerous, especially to vulnerable teens. Over the past few years, we've seen an alarming rise in the use of these substances. In the first six months of 2012, the New York State Poison Control Center received 321 calls regarding synthetic marijuana -- up from just 20 calls in all of 2010. This is a major issue -- and Governor Cuomo gets it. He knows he can't just rely on federal laws to combat the problem. We need statewide laws to bolster the Obama administration's efforts.

The governor should be commended for his foresight, but we must push him a step further. The new legislation, while positive, won't be enough to root out synthetic drug production and use. It focuses on regulating the drug supply, but any effort to address this problem must also reflect a concern for demand. Approaching the issue solely from a supply perspective is like trying to fill a dam; you patch up one hole, only to find a leak somewhere else. Banning certain ingredients will certainly make drug production more difficult, but creative manufacturers will always find another substance to use. We must understand the nature of the beast. Above all, the illegal drug industry is a business. We are up against a committed group of marketers, scientists and sellers who will continue to develop new drugs and market them to young people. These individuals are predators in the truest sense of the word.

For this reason, we must give more thought to the demand for drugs, particularly among teens. We can't stop young people from feeling tempted by a cleverly marketed product, but we can give them the tools to deal with this temptation. That's where prevention and education come in. We're currently working with a school district on Long Island to help prevent student drug use, reinforce positive behavior, identify at-risk youth, and intervene early before misuse develops into full-blown addiction. This innovative program is just one example of an approach that focuses on the causes behind use, not just the designer drug du jour.

In addition to prevention and education, we must ensure that help is available to those who need it. Producers of "bath salts" and similar substances deserve jail time, but the victims of their business schemes do not. As with all forms of addiction, treatment, not incarceration, is the solution to synthetic drug abuse. Putting drug users behind bars without providing proper treatment will only perpetuate the cycle of substance abuse. It is critical that we press our government officials to invest in services that help people get their lives back on track -- rather than simply funding law enforcement and criminal justice measures.

We must get to the root of the problem. It's wise for leaders like Governor Cuomo to stay on top of current drug trends, but unfortunately, it's not enough. If we concentrate exclusively on banning specific drugs and punishing offenders, adolescent usage will continue to rise. But if we develop practical ways of educating and treating teens, we'll be prepared to combat the next generation of designer drugs -- and the one after that. Governor Cuomo is on the right track. Let's encourage him and like-minded politicians to take their efforts to the next level.

 

Follow Howard Meitiner on Twitter:www.twitter.com/hmeitiner

FOLLOW CRIME Like 37k   Get Alerts #ad_bottom_article_text {margin-bottom: 15px} Addiction and RecoveryMarijuanaDrugsAndrew Cuomo Related News On Huffington Post:  
Bath Salts Banned In New York State; Governor Cuomo Announces New Regulations (SLIDESHOW) DEA Synthetic Drugs Crackdown Leads To Huge Seizures

Bath Salts Banned In New York State; Governor Cuomo Announces New Regulations (SLIDESHOW)

Governor Cuomo announced on Tuesday New York state is issuing a ban on the selling and possession of bath salts, citing a need to crackdown...

DEA Synthetic Drugs Crackdown Leads To Huge Seizures

WASHINGTON -- The Drug Enforcement Administration seized more than $36 million in cash and arrested 91 people in a nationwide crackdown against manufacturers, distributors and... Read more from Huffington Post bloggers: Subhash Kateel Subhash Kateel: It's Bigger Than "Bath Salts" and "Zombie Apocalypses" Gregory Bunt, M.D. Gregory Bunt, M.D.: Synthetic Marijuana: A New Clear and Present Danger

Subhash Kateel: It's Bigger Than "Bath Salts" and "Zombie Apocalypses"

Mention Miami this week and the first thing people will talk about is the "zombie" attack. Once the Twitterverse finishes with the jokes, look into the lives of both men and it stops being funny and starts being sad.

Gregory Bunt, M.D.: Synthetic Marijuana: A New Clear and Present Danger

What can be done to reduce synthetic drug abuse, of K2 and many other dangerous drugs, is not simply legislation or enforcement. It is education, public awareness and early intervention.
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