I went to see a friends new house recently here in town and learned about a situation in his neighborhood . He told me about the house at the end of the street where a lady in her 50s lives and is taking care of her ill mother and for whatever reasons, this lady is selling drugs to help pay bills. He is very disturbed about the whole situation of course but doesn't want to be the one who turns her in and feel responsible for the consequences that are sure to follow. So she's trying to save her mothers life but she's also helping to destroy someone else's. Would you turn her in or turn a blind eye?

If this is just pure speculation, I would mind my own business. If there are crack heads lined up at her door at all hours, I would alert the police and leave the rest of it to them.

I'm pretty much a believer that people need to stay out of their neighbors' business. The thing is, who knows if it's really true or not? People see things they interpret one way that may or may not be true. Then they tell someone else who embellishes the story when they pass it on and then by the time it gets all over the neighborhood who knows what's true?

In the absence of some sort of proof, I'd stay out of it.

-nab

She has no problem talking about what she does. I just find it alarming to see how she is protected by others in this well to do neighborhood.

I can't help but wonder about the lives that are possibly being damaged by someone that is selling drugs. I refuse to turn a blind eye, even when all the facts are not clear. My suggestion is to contact the police and make them aware of any suspicious activity. They know how to quietly survey the person and see if that is whats really going on. We all have a duty to keep drug dealers away from our children and looking the other way is not the answer.

I agree with northcountrygirl-you have to look at the big picture. Suppose there is a gun battle or drive-by shooting because of drugs, and an innocent neighbor is killed. There are plenty of alternatives for financial assistance without resorting to a life of crime. There are also opportunities for help with the care of her mother, so she could get a legal job if need be. You can report suspicious activity anonymously. Is this in Mobile? Just curious.

You could not report her, and a life MIGHT be ruined. Or you report her and two lives will DEFINITELY be ruined.

It is sad that this woman has had to resort to drug dealing to get by, but the fault lies squarely on the government. First, healthcare is becoming increasingly more expensive due to government regulation, and the government war on drugs is making drug dealing increasingly more profitable for those desperate (or violent) enough to enter it.

The number of lives that are damaged by drugs is only a fraction of the amount that are damaged by the war on drugs. The belief that we can control undesired behavior with the simple passing of legislation is as delusional as thinking we can reverse gravity with a majority vote. It is a lesson that hasn’t been learned despite the catastrophe of Prohibition.

And yes, there are plenty of ways to get assistance, and most of them have Catch-22’s. A neighbor of mine is experiencing this first hand. He has developed numerous health problems which have forced him to quit his job and go on long term medical disability.

He would like to work, but the only jobs he is able to perform would not enable him to cover his expenses, but they would put him in a income bracket where he would lose his disability. In essence, it pays him more to become a total burden to government relief rather than doing some work, paying taxes, and only being a partial one.

I find it sad that people will make excuses to promote illegal activity-whether that is selling drugs, prostitution, or giving alcohol to minors. We can all say, well that was going back on in my day too, but nothing ever changes, unless people are willing for change to happen. This woman can apply for benefits for herself and mother. there are home health and hospice options available to care for her mother. She is CHOOSING to sell drugs, because that is "easy" tax free money, no matter if someone OD's, or kills another after driving under the influence, or spreads rampant AIDS and other STD's after having unprotected sex because they were too blitzed to care, or were selling themselves to afford the drugs. There is no MIGHT of someone getting hurt by doing drugs. It is a matter of when and to what degree. My husband is a cop, and probably 90% or more of crimes today are drug related. If you want to be a part of the problem, do nothing.

And I will say this, lastly. I am a community health nurse, and have been watched by drug dealers going into some areas, was even followed out of a neighborhood one time. I have no problem with telling friends in different areas of law enforcement of "suspicious" activity-then let them deal with it however they see fit. At least I have made them aware. Bobcat, I will even go out on a limb here, if you want to tell me the area of town this is occurring, I will pass it on....that gets you off the hook.

bobcat - 26 March 2008 06:43 AM

I went to see a friends new house recently here in town and learned about a situation in his neighborhood . He told me about the house at the end of the street where a lady in her 50s lives and is taking care of her ill mother and for whatever reasons, this lady is selling drugs to help pay bills. He is very disturbed about the whole situation of course but doesn't want to be the one who turns her in and feel responsible for the consequences that are sure to follow. So she's trying to save her mothers life but she's also helping to destroy someone else's. Would you turn her in or turn a blind eye?

************

I dont know all the facts of the situation, however here is what I know of, via taking care of my mom in her later years, until she died last year..
If mom is a senior, she should be on Social Security as well that the prescription plan, if a doctor decided that this woman needed round the clock care, and the daughter needed to work (a real job, not as the local drug dealer) home health care can be brought in. So there is some (not a lot admittedly, but some) income in the house. And if daughter had a real job, rather than the easy way out, there would be more.
There is no excuse to sell drugs. It is selfish and wrong, if shes selling to adults, shes also selling to children, do you want your kids to meet her? I sure dont want a known drug dealer in my neighborhood. As soon, not only will drugs be on the street, but all its accompanying attributes. theft, break-in's, prostitution etc..after all these people are going to find out this is a "safe" neighborhood where they wont be turned in. And its not the best quality of people who are going to be buying from her.
Breaking a law for your own private profit, is selfish and in this case dangerous..to all who said they wouldnt or shouldnt turn her in..I hope shes far from you and dosnt sell to your kids, spouse, friends, or someone else, these drugs and cause an accident that those same people might be involved in. As you would have to change your mind if one of your people died thru this womans actions.

"You could not report her, and a life MIGHT be ruined. Or you report her and two lives will DEFINITELY be ruined." ShinKin

So your suggestion is to look the other way and pity the person that decides to sell drugs instead of getting help? I don't think so! As I stated in my earlier response, you can inform the proper authority about your suspicions and let them investigate the facts by surveillance. They are not going to jump in and arrest someone without reasonable suspicion. I would rather embarrass two people that may be innocent than to risk the innocent lives of several. I guess it's just a matter of prospective, but I have personally witnessed the damage that drugs can cause for the willing and the innocent and I truly believe that we need to be proactive and not wait until something happens.