>I think whatever we do there will always be some drug use within society.

Yes, I think you're right. History says there always has been, in every culture I've ever studied (not that I've studied that many).

>There are a number of sociological reasons why we have a drug problem. I would not suggest this is the total reason for the problem but it does hit all groups in one way or another. I think the most common denominator is broken homes. Define why there are so many single parent homes in America.

Yes, I think broken homes is a big factor. And not necessarily just single-parent homes...I know plenty of middle-class families who are "happily married," except they ignore their kids--worse, to me, than the single mother who holds down three jobs to make ends meet and *can't* be around for her kids.

Actually, I'm beginning to think that "failure" is the reason...Americans are very success-driven, and if you aren't the winner, you have failed. I heard a world-class caliber athlete (don't remember who) quoted that "second place is the first loser." With attitudes like that, nearly *everyone* is a failure--and some people really start believing it. In a quest to soothe the feelings of inadequacy, there are drugs and alcohol, ready to alter reality.

>I told my wife when I was a child I knew 64 families in my neighborhood and we talked to each other. We knew everyone by first and last name

Same here, and I grew up in Oak Park, IL, just outside Chicago. Now, in suburban Cary, NC (outside of Raleigh), I know the names of 4 families of the 14 in my cul-de-sac.

>Yesterday we had an event here in Silicon Valley, in Cupertino, which is the next community, a bit North West from us. At De Anza College (my son just graduated in December) the police closed down the school yesterday. 28,000 students were sent home and not allowed to get his/her cars from the parking lot. It seems that one of the students had built many bombs and had a large number of weapons.

WOW. What an amazing story. Scary. Very scary.

>The media interviewed the neighbors who said they only said hello - sometimes – to each other but did not know each other. Part of the problem with society has to lie with the parents not being involved with their children, and people not knowing or caring about his/her neighbors.
>
>I am so glad the young lady called her father and the police intervened. Otherwise, I am sure the headlines would be very different today.

Society don't value the family anymore. To be successful in the workplace, you likely need to put your family second (it's been that way *everywhere* I've worked). So we put our families on the back burner to succeed at work, to avoid that "failure" label. It takes almost all my free time to meet the needs of myself, my husband and my kids; I don't have time to socialize with the neighbors--and it's really important to know your neighbors.

I'm glad that photo lab employee called her father. I'm glad she had the courage to say something!

- della