Let’s keep zombies on the screen

To the editor:

Zombies!

Today you don’t have to look far to see a zombie. You may see zombies on TV, in video games, on T-shirts and even as car decals. Zombies have become part of pop culture.

One of the most well-known zombie shows is “The Walking Dead.” It started in October 2010 and is still making new episodes in 2019. Other popular zombie and apocalypse movies include “Zombieland,” “World War Z,” “Dawn of the Dead” and “Land of the Dead.” These flesh-eating dramas star famous actors from Emma Stone and Woody Harrelson to Brad Pitt. The genres even vary from horror to comedy. 

The definition of zombie is a person who is or appears lifeless, apathetic or completely unresponsive to their surroundings. The definition of apocalypse is an event involving destruction or damage on a catastrophic scale.

One could argue we are currently living in a “zombie apocalypse” with the amount of people going around high out of their minds on drugs. If you visit your local grocery store, stop at a gas station or grab a bite to eat at McDonald’s, you’ve likely seen somebody you suspect is under the influence of drugs. 

These people may be on prescription medications such as Xanax, or maybe they intravenously used heroin. They appear inattentive, slow and unresponsive. They may have droopy facial features with constricted pupils. Does this not remind you of a zombie?

Like zombies, people drugged out on illegal substances wander around aimlessly. You could even compare the aggressiveness of the zombie trying to eat human brains to the dire need of an addict getting their next high.

If you watch the news or follow any social media such as Facebook, you’ve probably seen articles with headlines such as “Baby Rescued From Hot Car After Parents Overdose.” One of the most commonly known incidents to circulate social media and the news was a woman in Walmart passed out on the ground while a toddler stood there trying to get the mother to respond. 

According to the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, in 2017 Indiana alone had 1,176 opioid overdose deaths.

One might ask what can be done?

Maybe counties have ample resources such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, A Better Life – Brianna’s Hope, Celebrate Recovery, Hope House and support groups. If you know somebody walking around like a zombie reach out to them and help get them resources they may need.

Our society loves zombies, but let’s keep it on the big screen.

Caroline Rouse

Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition