Fixing drug, alcohol problem on Vashon begins with small steps

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, May 11, 2016

I would like to challenge the citizens of Vashon to work together for healthy drug-and-alcohol-free community events. As a start, I urge the Vashon Chamber of Commerce to change the venue of its award ceremony for the Unofficial Mayor contest from the Strawberry Festival Beer Garden. A major focus of this weeks’ Beachcomber was the dangerous amount of drug and alcohol use on Vashon. On it’s front page, “Three drunk-driving deaths in year’s time cause concern” gave an in-depth look at the problem, what’s being done and not being done about it.

Kathleen Johnson, director of Vashon Youth & Family Services (VYFS) stated: “We have high rates of substance use particularly in youth and young adults.”

Also the front page headline, “Vashon’s unofficial mayor race heats up, five running for title.” Among other great charitable organizations that will benefit from this Chamber event is VYFS. I am appalled that the winner will be awarded at the beer garden, where young people cannot attend. On Vashon, we can’t seem to have any fundraising event for young people or for any other group that does not encourage drinking.

King County Sherriff’s precinct captain, Ted Boe said in the drunk driving story that “it is important that several facets of a community work together.” In our community, let’s have fund-raising events that are free of drugs and alcohol demonstrating to our youth that we can do what we ask them to do. The Vashon Alliance to Reduce Substance Abuse (VARSA) program has worked successfully to bring down the drug use of youth from 50% percent above the state average to the state average. It’s still too high, but if we work together we can make our community a healthy place for all.

— Kate Hunter