Dear Mr. Editor,

Sorry if I sounded so "know it all"! I'm a nurse who has run a suicide and crisis center in Collin County, am certified in substance dependence, come from a long line of drunks, have taught about substance abuse in the nursing program at Texas Woman's University. Finally, TA DA, I have a 37 year old son who has been sober for 18 years! it took him a good bit of time to have his peers in the 12 step program rub off his very rough edges,

We in the business and those with recovering (or not) family members know that getting and staying sober is just the beginning of sobriety.

All folks who have been addicted to something have all these really harmful behaviors swirling around their heads which can be as harmful to them and other as the actual drinking and drugs were.

These can be rage, manipulation, control issues, flawed conscience formation, lack of empathy for others and on and on.

If these guys had truly recovered from addiction and those behaviors, they would be building new lives and not needing not another containment program to get going again. They are not trustworthy to be placed next to a girl's camp. Actually, they should not be near families or unprotected kids at all.

Regards,
Barbara Mathews Blanton MSN, RN, CARN

[Ed Note: Thanks, Barbara! Folks need to hear from professionals like you. Sounds like zoning will approve the change, then it's up to the city council to deal with the issue.]