Detox is a medical intervention for a medical problem: that is right. Alcohol misuse is a horrible problem in Alaska: if I weren't an old hand at life, I would have been surprised by alcohol being served at a recent domestic violence fundraising dinner on Prince of Wales Island. We as a people aren't taking the enormity of the problem seriously.

4 years ago I asked my representative who was in attendance at this dinner, to sponsor a joint resolution which simply asked people to recognize the dangers of alcohol, so that they would be better recognize the problem early on. He refused to even consider doing as I asked. Since that day the state of Alaska has spent $2 billion more than they have taken in alcohol tax, just cleaning up the mess from this substance. Also since this date, there have been about 800 alcohol related homicides in Alaska.

Detox is but one part of the answer. Many are concerned and rightly so. In my view, one of the most effective things we can do is talk. Sharing?