I appreciate the Sun Journal for highlighting the issues of alcohol and substance abuse in the Sept. 21 editorial “Lohan is not alone in fight for recovery.”

An area agency, Community Concepts, also recognizes the issue and has counselors in many area high schools and middle schools so that students can talk to counselors about those issues while still early in their use, when it is much easier to make changes.

Children should be encouraged to talk to counselors. Parents should call their children’s schools if they have concerns.

On another note, it is important to recognize that some of the $800 or so each Maine citizen ends up paying toward public substance-abuse-related costs are for corrections.

If we do not intervene and help people end their use and abuse of alcohol or other substances, the result is most often crimes and jail.

Joan Churchill, Auburn