[Student Voices] A Tale of Two Cities
Published: 19 Aug. 2024, 09:27
Updated: 19 Aug. 2024, 10:25
Jane Han (Cheongna Dalton School, Grade 8)
by Jane Han (Cheongna Dalton School, Grade 8)
It was a typical night; the sun was setting, its last shimmers of warm, golden light seeping down the horizon. I was strolling around New York City, expecting to be greeted by the stereotypical New York street with dazzling neon lights and towering billboards every turn I took, only to be... not. The lively, luminous glow I was dreaming of was replaced with dim light posts on the side of the street, projecting slivers of brightness over a group of people hidden in the shadows. One of the huddled figures suddenly stirred, jolting upwards in distorted movements, his head shooting up and body jerking, as I stood frozen at the entrance of the street. The man started slowly creeping towards me, step by step, inch by inch, as I stood in place, wondering what abhorrent things had happened to that man to cause such movements, until my mother grabbed my hand and dragged me to the next street.
I later learned this is what drugs can do to people. That night was the first time I saw this problem as more than just a segment on the news.
I spent my elementary years abroad in Guelph, Canada, a city that was not affected by what many referred to as the “opioid crisis”... or so I thought. It was only recently, when I started a school project on ways to combat drug addiction, that I learned how far the crisis had spread. At the start of my project, I wanted to discover the secrets of how my childhood city was able to avoid drug problems. In Guelph, the neighborhoods were clean, there were no evident drug users on the streets, and generally, the signs of drug addiction were just not there. My plan was to learn from Guelph’s success and apply their secrets to places like New York. However, my research journey led me to articles titled “Opioid deaths on downward trend provincially, but not in Guelph” and “Guelph police investigation nets $5M in drugs.”
It was shocking to see such results for a city I assumed to be a safe haven. The articles mentioned that Guelph has a serious drug problem, but during my long stay there, this problem was never evident. As I pondered how this could be, a lingering question re-emerged—the question whose answer I had been searching for throughout my project, like searching for the key out of the lion’s den. Why do people not know?
For further insight, I reached out to Dr. Joy Schuurman, a family physician in Guelph, who also happens to be the mother of my best friend in Canada. When I asked Dr. Schuurman for her opinion on the addiction problem, she said, “I believe we need to look at the big picture—making sure people have access to safe, affordable housing, medical care, mental health support, proper nutrition as well as social and community support.” Just as I was pondering my lack of awareness, she added, “I think awareness is an important part of solving this crisis. Politicians, community leaders, physicians, parents, students, the entire community of Guelph can help. Helping people who struggle with poverty, homelessness, mental health concerns and loneliness can make a big difference.”
We need to know. By knowing, we can help. People turn to drugs when they’re at their lowest. This is when they need you. By helping a friend, family member, or perfect stranger when they’re at their lowest, you can keep them from turning to drugs. This could mean everything to them, their loved ones, and the whole community.
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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