There will always be a drug problem in this country, including Fountain Hills. To what degree, however, is the main issue.

But this doesn’t mean we should give up prevention efforts, drug interventions and enforcing our laws.

The recent “Take Back Day” organized by the Drug Enforcement Administration is just one example of one program that at least puts a dent into the drug problem.

Kudos to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office at the local level for participating in this national event. More than 218 pounds of drugs were dropped off at Town Hall during the course of a single day – that’s a lot of pills!

The trouble with prescription painkillers and the like is that oftentimes patients don’t finish what doctors prescribe. The half-full vials sit around the house, subject to theft by teen-aged children or grandchildren. Certain painkillers fetch big prices on the streets.

Such events, coupled with various programs and efforts launched by the Fountain Hills Coalition, further increase awareness in our community about the drug problem and what can be done about it. As stated on these pages before, we may not be able to solve the national drug problem, but we can make a difference in Fountain Hills, one household at a time.

We can turn in our unused drugs. We can use “Text a Tip” if there is an underage drinking party going on across the street. We can raise our children to hopefully steer them away from the evil clutches of drugs. We can support enforcement of our laws. We can tell our teens: “No, we’re not having a party at the house.” We can volunteer our time and talents to anti-drug causes.

Illegal drugs will always be with us, but at least in Fountain Hills we can continue to improve the community and how it approaches these topics.