We replaced Lynnda’s cell phone with a phone having a better camera in preparation for our U.S. Commercial Services Roadshow economic development trip to Europe in a couple of weeks.

While waiting for data transfer from her old phone, we visited with the young man running the store. He is from Boone County, WV. He has done well, especially with his challenges. He was raised by his grandmother since his mother was on drugs. His concern with fentanyl coming into the U.S. is personal since his mother is still on drugs. His grandmother gave his life stability.

We were blessed growing up. Dad worked. Mom stayed home and made sure we got off to school with the proper clothing and the lunch she packed for us. Dad did maintenance work at a VA Hospital in Pittsburgh. He started at 8 a.m. stopped at 4:30 p.m. and was home before 5 p.m. like clockwork. Mom had dinner ready at 5:30. This was typical for most of my friends. Families were stable. Drug issues were rare. Alcohol issues were more common.

Somewhere the world changed as drugs crept into our society. As a manager in the 1980s we began random drug testing employees. We had unannounced facility drug tests. A team came unannounced. No one could leave without being tested. As district manager, I wasn’t aware they were coming and was first person tested. The drug issue in the 1980s was growing and impacting families. Back then I was coaching an under 12-year-old youth soccer team and was shocked to find half of my players weren’t living with either parent. Most were living with a one or two grandparents the others were with an aunt. Sadly, many of the parents were in jail or on drugs living with a boyfriend or girlfriend. My daughter was a teacher and is now an elementary school assistant principal in Maryland. She gets to see the drug problem and its impact on children first hand.

The drug problem has probably gotten worse. Three healthy meals at home like me growing up is apparently rare today. During the pandemic we learned for many children the only meals they can depend on are at school. Ways were found to get meals to children at home when the schools were closed. We are seeing today are more dangerous drugs coming across our borders. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid used to treat acute (short term) severe pain caused by major trauma, surgery or cancer. It is up to 100 times stronger than other opioids like morphine, heroin or oxycodone. fentanyl when mixed with heroine and other street drugs can cause deadly overdoses.

People are dying from overdoses of illegal drugs crossing our borders. Families and children are impacted, like the young man we talked to this week. Drugs also impact our work force. Finding qualified drug-free employees can be a challenge. To have a thriving economy we need to solve the drug problem. What can WE DO?

The flow of illegal drugs into our country must be restricted. New leadership is finally taking control of our borders making it more difficult to get drugs into the USA. Our elected leaders need to know we support efforts to close our open borders and make it more difficult to bring illegal drugs into the U.S. That alone won’t solve the problem. We need to reduce demand for drugs, something we can all help with. Here are some tips from educators in the Lone Star State;

Use the following tips to help guide thoughts and behaviors about drugs:

Talk honestly

Really listen

Help develop self-confidence

Help develop strong values

Be a good example

Help deal with peer pressure and acceptance

Encourage healthy creative activities

Know what to do if someone you love has a drug problem

Two things I will add is; 1) Show people you care about them. 2) Give hope.

I used to teach Junior Achievement at the middle and high school level in class for an hour a week for 10 weeks. In one class there was a student whose head was down on his desk. I never saw his face. Teacher said not to worry about him. He had problems and was living with an aunt after his grandmother who died. A few months after the class ended, I was shopping downtown when a young man ran up and called me by name. I had no idea who he was. Then he said, “I want you to meet my aunt.” He told her everything we did for the 10 weeks. You don’t always know when you are making a positive difference.As an adjunct professor at Pierpont Community and Technical College I taught a leadership course to second year students. All they had to do was graduate in May and be drug free. A $50-$60,000 a year job was waiting for them. My students all had job offers by October. With hope in the future they had the power to resist the temptation of drugs. All graduated drug free and are working. Hope is powerful.

One goal of Shale Crescent USA is to help foreign companies expand to the USA. We are looking for ways to create synergy between our region and Europe. The European company may be able to do their energy intensive manufacturing here and ship the intermediate product back to Europe for a value add creating jobs and hope on both sides of the Atlantic.

I saw an old video this week of my first 5K race after the soccer injury that put me in a wheelchair for months. My pace was a very slow 16 minutes per mile.

Today I can easily run a 12-minute mile. Success doesn’t happen immediately. In my case it took years to get my speed back. We won’t solve the drug problem overnight. We can start and all do something to make a difference to others beginning today.

Greg Kozera, gkozera@shalecrescentusa.com, is the director of marketing and sales for Shale Crescent USA, www.shalecrescentusa.com. He is a professional engineer with a master’s in environmental engineering and over 40 years’ experience in the energy industry. He is a professional speaker and author of four books and numerous published articles.