GUILFORD — On Nov. 13, approximately 50 people gathered at Brattleboro Union High School, forming a circle of understanding to address: “How are you personally affected by substance abuse in our community?”
This circle, which I had the pleasure of facilitating, was conceived and sponsored by the Brattleboro Restorative Justice Consortium, composed of representatives from Youth Services, the Brattleboro Community Justice Center, Brattleboro Union High School Restorative Justice Program, the Just Schools Project, and the Bellows Falls Community Restorative Justice Program.
This event had a two-fold purpose - to demonstrate how the use of a restorative circle process can effectively engage a community in a constructive dialogue and to connect people who are interested in proactively addressing substance abuse in our community.
Participants shared personal stories of how substance abuse had affected their lives:
• elderly parents being addicted to oxycodone,
• fear of open neighborhood drug dealings,
• loss of friends and family due to substance abuse,
• crimes driven by drug use.
Out of this dialogue came a number of thoughtful ideas about actions that need to be taken to more effectively address substance abuse and the toll it takes on the community.
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The following are some of the key thoughts presented by some participants but do not necessarily represent the views of all individuals and organizations who attended:
• Prevention: If the demand dries up, the drug dealers will go away.
Unfortunately, the heroes in our society, and those who get recognition, are the people who swoop in to solve a problem versus the people who take actions to prevent the problem from occurring.
It is much harder to prove a problem was prevented and, therefore, funding for prevention efforts is harder to obtain.
More support for prevention programs is needed to elect and influence our legislators to fund such prevention programs.
• Education: Substance abuse is usually coupled with people not feeling good about themselves. Our schools can play a role in this regard by providing kids with social/emotional skills to help them deal with life challenges and conflicts.
More use of restorative approaches versus punitive actions is needed to help kids build self-esteem and to learn from their mistakes.
• Recovery stigma: In some ways, substance abuse is becoming acceptable and sometimes glamorized. Unfortunately, a stigma is attached to those who manage to get into recovery, and that stigma impacts their ability to get work and lead purposeful lives.
More publicity is needed to show that recovery is indeed quite possible and that, as a result of recovery, a person becomes stronger and more committed to giving back positively to the community.
• Don't be a bystander: Drug dealers do not want attention. If you suspect dealing, do not hesitate to report it, even if you're not sure it's taken place. The police will respond. Although the dealer might return, continue reporting what you observe.
The police can't be everywhere; they seek and appreciate community involvement.
• Escaping the negative environment: We are all subjected to a constant outpouring of personal attacks and divisiveness. Political ads focus more on attacking the opposition than bringing forth positive ideas.
This pervasive negative “bashing” environment has a particularly strong effect on kids, with the use of substances being a way to at least temporarily escape this negativism.
We need to be less tolerant of people who use an attacking style to gain power, and we must become more willing to support and listen to those offer a more constructive and positive view. How we vote and whom we support can make a difference.
Also, we discussed the fear people have of young people hanging out at Brattleboro's Transportation Center. It was suggested that this fear is ill-founded and that it could be positively addressed by more people engaging these youth in friendly conversation instead of avoiding contact.
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The vast majority of participants in the circle found this form of community dialogue and engagement to be of personal value to them. It gave them an opportunity to have a voice. It not only gave them a chance to express their personal concerns and ideas but, of equal importance, to know that they are not alone.
However, to be even more effective, our circle needed to be more inclusive. Engaging kids, the elderly, teachers, school administrators, and those seeking and in recovery would likely result in an even more productive dialogue.
If you have an interest in continuing community dialogues or in working on actions to address substance abuse, please contact me, and I will pass your name onto those planning future activities.