The pain of addiction and death are real for too many

How devastating the sadness and sorrow expressed by the family of Danielle Rae Walker in her Dec. 17 classified obituary in the PG. The tragic pain for the loved ones left behind from the toll of deaths due to addiction seems to be never-ending.

The “feel good,” “the escapes from reality,” “the immediate highs,”

drain every purpose we should have for living our lives — our family, our children!

The obituary of Ms. Walker says it all: It mentions “all of the harm and pain her illness caused us and many others. To those she harmed, we are sorry. But those actions were not from our beautiful daughter but from the addict that she had become. Please forgive her; we have. And to the men who took advantage of her, knowing of her fragile state, may God forgive you; we never will. The only advice we have for those families living with addiction: Be angry, hurt and frustrated but end your conversations with ‘I love you.’ Danielle always did and now we wish we had. ‘If love could have saved you, you would have lived forever.’”

We will all take our turns dying, but addiction has to be addressed and eradicated. But how? One person at a time. Faith and religion are so important in assuring an ongoing civilized society; the chance to live lives without addictions and experience the goodness that is available to us all needs to be the focus!

The addicts and the drug pushers don’t care, and their only reading will be directions on getting high and the denominations of currency. Intervention by family members, drug and alcohol counselors, men and women of God, police, educators and our government agencies is where the help is. Don’t sit back and watch. Take a stand and seek help. God bless. HARRY A. FLANNERY

New Castle