Orphans Of The Bluegrass Research Paper

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Orphans of the Bluegrass: The War on Drugs in Kentucky Principles of Conflict Management March 14, 2014 Abstract The war on drugs is nothing new for the rolling hills of Kentucky; from meth labs, prescription pain medication abuse, and the growing rate of heroin dependence, this community has fought perilously against the demons of addiction that tear apart families, orphan children, and destroy communities. According to 2010 census data, “more than 86,000 children in Kentucky are being raised by someone who is not their biological parent - mostly grandparents” with many in the bluegrass state blaming prescription drugs for those torn apart families (Kounang, 2013). According to the Attorney General, Kentucky is the fourth most medicated…show more content…
Next in line are the adults in this state who are in serious need of rehabilitation and guidance on this issue. Their addiction gets in the way of their ability to parent and to financially care for their children. This burden then falls on the state and becomes everyone’s problem. “When we are in conflict, we tend to lump all the issues that upset us into a mass of indistinguishable complaints that are intertwined and difficult to understand, negotiate and fix, or resolve on their own. As strange as it may seem, simply creating distinctions or separations between the core issues in conflict can produce a significant shift in allowing us to approach them constructively” (Cloke, 2011). The war on drugs is going to take some “interest-based approaches”, meaning law makers need to dig into the issue and speak to those who are directly affected (Kenneth Cloke, 2011). The root of the issue is where the solution will be…show more content…
Improvements in how medications are regulated and administered are vital to combating addiction, seeking funds to transform how addiction is treated and programs that assist children in coping are also crucial to this cause. These programs are a necessary step towards fighting the war on drugs before it begins with a new generation. Strategy Nine: Explore Resistance and Negotiate Collaboratively Clear guidelines and laws need to be implemented in Kentucky. The problem must be defined, a process for solving it decided on, a solution agreed on and commitments made to implement the solution. Resistance may be met at first, with addicts fighting to get the drugs they need, but it is important to save their lives and better the lives of their children. Strategy Ten: Mediate and Design Systems for Prevention “It takes us a minuscule amount of time to resolve disputes, compared with the amount of time it takes to not resolve them” (Cloke, 2011). Taking the time to create strict laws will save lives over the long run. Furthermore, taking the time to start readily available programs for children of addicts, or children whose parents have overdosed, could also save Kentucky from a vicious cycle of addiction and death by

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