Lo Russo himself is now raising the alarm. Who says he is very worried “not only as mayor, but also as a citizen of this city.” And his concern has a very specific word: crack. Yes, the dealing of the so-called “poor people’s drugs”. Which is becoming “a real epidemic”, words of Lo Russo, released in the usual Tuesday live radio broadcast. «A substance – said the mayor – which is now it is also spreading among the very youngwhich produces dependency very quickly and aggression. And this is a complex issue that adds to a series of questions about the social and psychiatric, psychological fragilities of many people who live on the streets.”
A statement, the one released by Lo Russo, that testifies to what is no longer just a concern of associations, committees – especially those of the suburbs – and residents. Now even politics, in the person of the mayor, expresses its fear and speaks of an “epidemic” in reference to that drug, crack, which creates the most devastating consequences in those who take it, both physically and psychologically. «I confidently await the installation of the new regional counciland – Lo Russo added -. We will contact you to understand how this can be done also intervene from a health point of view“. Finally, for the mayor “there is a very important issue of mental health, many people have difficulties and we must work in an integrated manner. Our social services alone cannot do it, but by working with the ASL, with the police, some element of containment of these phenomena can be there. I am for teamwork and we will continue to work with this spirit. There is no recipe that is valid always and for all areas of the city, but let’s never forget that the first security is social security, not to make anyone feel alone and in this context the strengthening of social services and the health network is essential».
Just last week, it was Lo Russo himself who “experienced first-hand” the problems of a neighborhood where unfortunately crack cocaine is rampant: San Salvario. Dusting off the famous “chair”, the mayor met the residents and the House of the neighborhood in the Ginzburg flowerbed, known as the “drug flowerbed”. Lo Russo had listened to the words of the director of the House, Roberto Arnaudo: «Once upon a time, only cocaine was around here. For a year now, crack has been around, and it is smoked by very young people. And then there is heroin». As for the possible solutions, for the mayor they are «forms such as “Safe roads” need to be reviewed. Mobile devices are better, they have less impact”.
