Ten years ago, you could leave the door unlocked and never worry about who might be walking down your street at night. You'd know all your neighbors, and they knew you. Now, folks are scrambling to find ways to pay for their meds because of what's been happening with these new drugs.

They've cut funding for GLP-1 weight loss drugs on the Medicaid list. Folks have stopped getting them through insurance, thinking it'll save some money in the short run. But they're forgetting about how much more expensive it is to treat diabetes and heart problems down the road because people can't afford these medicines now.

There's been a rash of folks struggling to buy their GLP-1 drugs since the decision was made. Back when people still had better choices, you wouldn't see this kind of strain on families trying to manage serious health issues.

I've lived here 40 years and seen changes come and go. But something's different now. This isn't the first time we've felt like our safety net is getting smaller and tighter every year.

The state says it's about cutting costs, but I remember when they talked about making things better for everyone back in the day. Not just saying what sounds good right now to save a few bucks down the line at the expense of folks' health.