I'll start off by saying that heroin is a horrible drug and I do truly feel sorry for those struggling through addiction and the families dealing with the heartache of loving an addict...

But the coddling and defending needs to stop.

Dirty needles and empty packets get thrown on the ground carelessly. Dogs and children are put at risk, but these addicts don't care.

EMTs and Police Officers are put at risk while attempting to help addicts.

Children are exposed to overdoses in public areas.

But still, people come in droves to defend the addicts. They say it's a disease. That the addicts are the victims.

I personally am sick so seeing these people being defended when they are hurting children, pets, and first responders. Not to mention the ones who have no fear of nodding out in public or shambling around like a zombie drooling on themselves around children. Or the ones RAISING children like this. Or the ones robbing, stealing, and even killing just to get a fix.

This needs to stop. People need to stop enabling the addicts. Stop telling them it's okay to do what they're doing. 

When they cross the line from harming only themselves to harming others around them, it is time to see them for what they are - a menace.

Even if the addict hasn't stolen anything or doesn't toss harmful items on the ground... Guess what? They're still a bad person.

If you're lying awake at night crying over your loved one's third relapse, fifth overdose, or even their drug related death... NEWS FLASH! They aren't the victim. YOU ARE. 

See the situation for what it is. Your loved one made a CHOICE and CONTINUES TO MAKE THE CHOICE that getting high is more important than the children, pets, or first responders they may or do harm. Getting high is more important to them than respecting someone else's property or safety. 

​And if you have lost someone or are currently afraid of losing someone to heroin... I'm sure it's a lot easier for you to keep thinking that it's not their fault and they're just suffering from a disease that they can't control... But the truth is that they didn't/don't care about you. You're just another victim in their path towards getting high.

See them for how they are. A menace. 

If we stop telling addicts that they're doing nothing wrong and it's not their fault then maybe they'll actually fix themselves and get clean.

-Anonymous ​

Why does it seem that the Hazleton police department only catches drug dealers/suppliers when someone OD's or while responding to a call about something completely unrelated? Are drugs really as big of a problem as most people around the Luzerne county area see them? Both of those questions can be answered simply. Its because the people that supply the illegal substances, if they are smart anyway, make sure to stay under radar and out of police view. Drugs are not the real problem its the people that use them 99% of the time. If you are a normal resident who has had to resort to selling these substances at any point in your life then you would understand its a cleaner business than most people think. As a supplier you want to make sure the people you are selling to get the best quality product and the actual substance they are trying to procure. This is why i say the real problem are the users. They are the ones who use in public areas where children play and animals frolic. So why not have an area where users can do there substances without it being harmful to the community in its own sort of way? Like a porta-potty type building or some other private spot where they can go to use that also has proper disposal receptacles and items to aid them in a way to help clean up the area of drug debris. I am in no way condoning the use of drugs in any way i am just saying it would make sense in a way that prevents exposure to needles and other items that are harmful to the average citizen. Just food for thought but it might be the right food for the community. 

​-Anonymous 

Once again the Luzerne County Manager is trying to impose a $5 registration fee on the county taxpayers to pay for the county roads and bridges. This fee was rightfully defeated last year because the taxpayers are already paying for county roads and bridges through their county taxes and the other fees in the Act 83 Transportation Law that was passed in 2013 raising everything from the state registration fees, tolls, and the most overbearing of all the damn gasoline tax which PA has the highest in the country. I have told the County Manager and the County Council that they should demand the state appropriate Luzerne County their share for the county roads and bridges as most of them are off of state roads. The other problem with this $5 fee is that PennDOT charges an administrative cost for collecting the fee for the county. As a result the county will receive LESS than the $5. I have suggested over the past 2 years for the County to pursue federal grants to get our share of money for the repairs for our county roads and bridges but our county officials would rather play go along to get along with their masters in the state as political slaves who do as they’re told. 

Make no mistake about it, the taxpayers are just sheep to be fleeced from because for decades the taxpayers are expected to just shut up and pay whatever is charged by their elected officials with out questioning their reasons or complaints about their wrongdoing. Charging more for something that is already priced in for what you’re currently paying for is overcharging. Having a fee on top of a tax for a service you’re being provided is called double dipping which what the registration fee is in this case. I ask my fellow taxpayers to email the County Council and County Manager to say NO to establishing this fee.

County Council Members email: LCCM@luzernecounty.org
County Manager Pedri: County.Manager@luzernecounty.org