Tag: understanding

Addiction is a Treatable Disease.

“Good Person, Bad disease.”

That’s how it was explained to me when I sought treatment for alcoholism over ten years ago. The human mind, each as varied and unique as stars in the sky, have the same ability to succumb to disease. When we live in a world that the human mind has created, and imagine now what will be manifest tomorrow, we can forget sometimes, the incredible ability of the human mind to deceive itself.

The treatment of underlying mental problems with a doctor can help bring to an end the problems surrounding the addiction, but as part of successful on going recovery from addiction, knowledge is the strongest medicine anyone can receive. Knowing why one continues to engage in reckless behavior, arms that person with the ability to keep the mind in check.

Treatment of Disease vs. Criminal Offense

By treating a disease as a violation of law, we ask our police and first responders to assume a task, they were NOT interested in pursuing- psychologist. Instead of treating diseases of the mind as they should be, with trained medical professionals and support from others, we arrest people who repeatedly go back to their addictions after “time served” or “sentence fulfilled”. More cops to ‘treat’ more ‘victims’ of an epidemic.

“This Man needs Emergency surgery! I’ll call the Police…”

No! And that’s not who should be taking care of people who are dealing with the disease of substance abuse. Support, education, opportunities, and regular contact with a professional who can advise and prescribe whatever is needed to treat this disease of the mind.

IF we turned our attention to this topic, it would relieve a HUGE amount of stress from the back of law enforcement. It would save lives. BUT we must give those who seek it, the ability to succeed. Addiction cannot be solved in prison, yet criminals can be addicts as well. Let us find the Wisdom to know the difference.

Keep your head UP!!

JC

Disconjoined Morals and Ramblings (pt. 1)

Today I saw a man standing on the corner of Parallel and 64th. Long hair, leathery skin, wide brimmed hat. Unlit cig in one hand, both hands shaking. Not sure if he was singing along with music or just talking loudly, alone by the traffic light. 6 cars were stopped at that light for a couple minutes. I wondered what all the other people were thinking. After a few seconds, I realized ‘There, but for the grace of god, go I…’

George Carlin once said “… the poor are there just to scare the shit outta the Middle Class.” There’s a NEW villain in town. Not foreigners, not gov’t intrusion-

An 8.5″ X 11″ neon green/yellow piece of paper.

When a neighbor’s house suddenly becomes empty. Then the yard doesn’t get mowed. Then a few more weeks pass. One day in the front window, CLEARLY visible as you drive your KIDS TO SCHOOL everyday, a notice of foreclosure on a neon green/yellow piece of paper. I remember them pop up everywhere in 2010-2012. How many families were shattered by that? As they creep today, I wonder who’s next.

The situation between Stormy Daniels and Donald Trump is a GREAT metaphor for how my generation has been treated by people of Mr. Trump’s generation… Screwed us over, roughed us up a little, threw some pity money at us, then walked away. Respect your elders. Elders who act RESPECTFUL shall earn mine.

Propaganda has an interesting effect on people. It makes some FORGET the facts, and others (the one’s who remember the facts) get MAD at the people who FORGOT the facts. GOOD people do GOOD things even when no one is looking.

As the climate changes, and it doesn’t go the way scientific forecasts have predicted, what will YOU do? What should Our government be doing? Why aren’t we doing more…

We have the liberty to choose the course. It is not set in stone. When we look at all the different approaches to shaping our government and making ourselves a better society, we can make the choice. All of the texts speak of the battle between good and evil, light vs. darkness, the weak vs. the powerful. The moral is always the same- good will prevail in the end. Light conquers darkness. And at some point, we must ask ourselves “Good… or evil?” Where do YOU stand?

Where DO you stand? We should ask that more often. Come together in the light. Speak freely. That’s the ONLY way this works. KNOWLEDGE will keep us ALL free.

Keep your head UP!!

JC