I question the wisdom of honoring a person who was already in the legal system for antisocial behavior and who took the ultimate risk. A better approach might be for the community to begin to do what is necessary to prevent this situation from arising in the future. This is community denial at its worst.

"Whatsoever you do to the least of My brothers, that you do unto Me."

Until the community understands that the drugs don't kill, rather it is whatever leads up to the taking of drugs that kills, we will continue to lose young people. The Christian thing to do would be to focus all our attention on the causes behind such risk taking behavior.

I sit on the board of BBCC-honoring Oliver's memory at this concert is a beautiful tribute to a young man who tried valiantly and desperately to battle his disease. It is his legacy that this should not happen to another person and what better way to do that than through providing forums where people, especially kids, can become educated on the power of addiction. Kids educating kids, kids wanting to make a difference in kids' lives, that is what this event is about-its a great way to send a powerful message.

If the event includes a data-driven presentation about what factors prevent and reduce drug use by our youth it would be helpful. Parents want to know which treatments are effective and which are not. Anecdotal accounts of recent events through the lens of raw grief tend not to reflect the realities of the general population of youth.

Please sign this petition to help ban spice on a national level. Thank you.

https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions#!/petition/ban-all-synthetic-drugs-including-spice-k2-and-related-brands-currently-sold-legally-gas-stations/h94sc1SW

Hi Debbie - I am somewhat reluctant to engage you in any type of dialogue because it is disturbingly obvious that perhaps with the exception of a text book you have no experience with this type of behavior, what causes it, or the proper way to deal with it. You are simply an observer who has every right to form an opinion regardless of how ignorant and misguided it may be. As a baseline however, I have a few questions. Do you have a son or daughter that has struggled with addiction? Have you struggled with addition? Have you ever been in therapy or rehab for addiction? Do you know Oliver's parents and are you familiar with how they approached Oliver's struggles? Did Oliver go through inpatient and / or outpatient rehab? Was he actively seeing a therapist? I could go on, but if the answer to any of these is no, or I don't know - which I'm guessing is the answer to all of the questions - then you need to contact someone who has first hand knowledge of addiction.

Very well put, Mr. Smith. As far as your reference to Christianity goes, Jesus said that if we believe, we are all his children. I highly doubt that Jesus would object to honoring Oliver's memory. Please do not judge anyone else's sins.

What is this, the Middle Ages? All this talk about demons and sins. My point is the community should have the courage to put the recent drug deaths squarely in our "L" column and move on to create more effective interventions for teen addicts. These teens were already IDd by society as high risk. The addiction professionals say get professional help soon and intensively. We clearly need more inpatient facilities. We don't let teen cancer patients just stay home and "struggle". We shouldn't do the same to teen addicts. But to do that we would have to let go of our romantic and fatalistic views about addiction.

Nobody let Oliver stay at home and struggle. His parents did everything that they had the power to do to help this child You have a have a very fairy tale perception of addiction. You can't just educate,them and place them in rehab and wave a magic wand and everything is better. Addiction is an extremely complex disease, that can sometimes be fatal. As in the case of my beautiful nephew Oliver Smith. He was a child that struggled and was fighting with everything he had to make his way back.
So please do not make any more judgements or comments, until you have educated yourself in this matter.

People are honored all the time that fought their disease and lost the battle. Why should a person with an addiction not deserve that same honor? We are honoring someone who's death will most likely save many lives.

I think you do need a hug Debbie. I would be happy to give you one. It is quite obvious that you have lack of knowledge on the subject! So as MRoth put it, "kindly shut the hell up". I will be at the BBCC Battle of the Bands Friday night 7:00 pm dedicated to Oliver Smith!

I'll grant you this: If you keep cruising on that Good Ship Denial instead of bringing this community's considerable resources to bear against teen drug addiction you will have many more memorial concerts to attend.

Debbie - perhaps our two ships could meet in the night. It would be interesting to see what The Good Ship Ignorant looks like. My guess is that it has a thinnly veneered exterior and completely void of any innerworkings. BTW, you never answered any of my questions. Please go back, read the questions - and add these - What role are you playing in "bringing the community's considerable resources to bear against teen drug addicition"? What type of resource do you represent?

I hope we meet some day Ms Thomas. I would be happy to introduce you to the staff at Brighton and other facilities where Oliver recieved treatment. In the mean time please refrain from using the term denial since it did not and does not apply. You are an ignorant, pompous ass and I'm being generous. My last request - please don't bring any children into the world. The last thing we need is another analytical, soulless person - but then again maybe they can overcome their genetic disadvantages.

Shame on you Ms. Thomas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!