It is impossible for any thinking person to fail to notice Alaska's staggering alcohol problem; the question then becomes this: What, if anything can we do that will improve the numbers?

World-wide, there has been research and models that prove we can do better. Unwittingly, Alaskans gave harm reduction advocates a win with marijuana legalization.. Portugal legalized drug possession and shifted to the view of the medical nature of substance abuse problems.

As a people, we have yet to come to grips with even acknowledging that alcohol is really a problem. About 3 weeks ago, I was at a domestic violence fundraising dinner. Alcohol was served and middle school students ushered the event. Teachers were drinking in front of students and so on. Alcohol is the fuel that powers domestic violence. Go figure.

Clearly, we have a long way to go: we can get to a better place with regard to substance abuse. I'm impressed at the willingness of people to discuss this issue: therein lies a solution.