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On the front page of the OBSERVER recently, the headline read: "Needed services methadone clinic on track for opening in the fall in the city of Dunkirk."
Now let's take a hard look at this clinic and how it got into the city of Dunkirk. The organization for this clinic is originally from the city of Buffalo. Now I am sure there are quite a few communities between Buffalo and Dunkirk for this clinic, so why pick Dunkirk?
It all looks like the responsibility goes to Mayor Wilfred Rosas in Dunkirk. He supported this clinic and since this clinic controversy of this clinic started, there was quite an uproar from the citizens of this city who were very concerned about what this clinic will bring into Dunkirk.
Those who will be coming to Dunkirk will be coming from all over the area, possibly staying here and going on welfare. The main concern is from the parents of children who attend Northern Chautauqua Catholic School, only a block away.
Who knows who these people are and what they are capable of? The supporters of this clinic state these addicts have a disease that is uncontrollable and they compare this disease with other diseases. They also claim that society shows more sympathy for people with cancer, polio, heart attacks, COVID than they do for the drug addicts. Well, let's compare this argument with the other diseases. First of all, drug addiction is not a disease. It is a drug that people decided to put inside of their bodies free and willing, some knowing the consequences. Now, let's compare the addict to those other diseases that are real, such as heart attacks, cancer, polio, COVID. They were not a disease that was welcome to anyone.
No one wanted these diseases. So to those who don't get the message, drug addicts wanted this problem and they got it.
Now who suffers for this decision from addicts? Oh yes, always society is the one who has to take up the responsiblity of those who don't take care about their own bodies. So sad. Being a drug addict is a reckless act on the individual's part, not society's. As for Mayor Rosas, thanks for looking out for the citizens of your city, but no thanks.
Richard Makuch is a Dunkirk resident. Send comments to editorial@observertoday.com