To the Editor:
The CASFY Coalition (Community Action for Substance Free Youth) wants citizens of Old Lyme to know that the owner of the Bestway gas station at 281 Shore Road is selling drug paraphernalia.
We have sent the owner two letters asking him to remove his large display of paraphernalia from his store. We have followed up with visits and phone calls. The owner has repeatedly said “no” to us, and also to customers who asked him to stop selling these items, even after telling him they will not buy products from his business until he does.
The Bestway gas station has a vast collection of drug paraphernalia in two large glass cases displaying bongs, glass pipes, scales, and other items for smoking or inhaling drugs, grinders (for marijuana and other substances), “hides”(items used to conceal drugs), and many other items used to consume or prepare illegal drugs.
Here are four reasons to prevent the sale of drug paraphernalia in Old Lyme.
- Youth who see it in a store conclude that drug use is normal and acceptable. It is not.
- Drug paraphernalia attracts customers who are drug users, drug addicts, or drug dealers.
- Availability of drug paraphernalia is a contributing factor to substance abuse in our community.
- People who are in recovery from a substance use disorder could be “triggered” to use when they see paraphernalia. A gas station should be a place where someone can reasonably expect to avoid being triggered by seeing drug paraphernalia.
We value local business, but not at the expense of the health and well being of our children. Protecting our children from drugs and harm is something we take very seriously and we believe our community shares this principle.
We encourage the citizens of Old Lyme to let the owner of Bestway know how you feel about this issue.
Sincerely,
Karen Fischer and Mary Seidner
Editor’s Note: The authors are respectively the CASFY Prevention Coordinator and the Director of Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau.