Advocates: Obama Should Treat Drug and Alcohol Addicts Too
Reader Comments
addiction
Great to see people overcoming their addiction and living strong at 77.
Alcoholism, a Self Inflicted Disease
I drank for over 40 years. I drank my way thru the Korean War & the Vietnam War (Managed to blame some of my drinking on that). All 40 plus years I was a competition type drinker, always trying to prove I could drink more than the next guy. I had a reputation sort of like the old Western gunslinger and would be challenged to drinking bouts which I seldom if ever lost, if you consider the ability to lurch from one table to another while the other guy was passed out face down on the bar and driveing home drunk without getting a DUI as winning. I had to drive because I was too drunk to walk. I used to say "It's easy to quit", I quit every morning. The last 20 years of my drinking was spent trying to quit and every time I quit I sincerely meant it. Two hours later I'd be back into the jug. There is no one more sincere than a sick drunk swearing to God he will never take another drink. It never occured to me to seek medical or any other type of help. One day, 18 Nov 1986 I just had enough. After 34 straight shots of bar whiskey at 11:00 PM, 18 Nov 1986 I stood up at the bar and stated "This my last drink". I self detoxed (I thought) and hung on tooth and nail. After 62 days of absolute torture, I ended up in ER. I was puking blood, crapping blood, my blood pressure was out of this world, I had panic attacks and terrible anxiety and on top of that my heart was giving me bad trouble. Premature ventricular contractions and palpitations. Every 3rd beat felt as if I had been punched in the stomach. No wonder I couldn't sleep. When my wife told the ER Doctor that I had quit my heavy drinking suddenly, he had me transfered to a treatment center. After 28 days in Treatment pumped full of vitamin B, I felt better but still NEEDED a drink. Didn't want one, just needed it. The Doctors told my Wife, in front of me as if I were not even there, "Your Husband is a chronic alcoholic with NO hope of staying sober any considerable length of time". BUT, they recommended I attend AA on a regular basis. I did and I do. I have remained sober with no mind altering substances in my body for over 8,240 consecutive days. Within the 1st 2 years my NEED for a drink disapeared. I no longer need panic or anxiety medication. My bleeding ulcers and piles have long ago healed. No more premature ventricular contractions or heart palpitations. The old heart ticks like a Swiss watch. My wife and I will celebrate our 50th Wedding anniversary in November this year, God willing. I have never been happier. Since I sobered up I have survived Gastric Volvulus and Throat Cancer. I have learned what gratitude for what I have really is. I have learned to be happy, joyous and free. I blame this all on God and the program of Alcoholics Anonymous. I am 77 years old and still living strong. In AA we help each other. There is a saying, "When you are helping someone else up a hill, you are getting closer to the top yourself", which is exactly what happens in AA.
Treating Addiction
I think there would be fewer addicts also if the dealers were eliminated that is out of my hands and as a recovering addict i have learnt in order to change a habit you have to be the treatment
One more time
The war on drugs cannot be won by attempting to stop supply as long as there is demand. Putting resources to work to dry up demand will automatically dry up supply if successful.
I sort of think
the sellers of alcohol should be sent the national bill for alcohol dependency treatment, the sellers of prescription drugs should be sent the national bill for addiction to those substances, and the sellers of meth, cocaine, heroin and such should be merely shot on sight.
Maybe we could sell "hunting licenses" (sort of like for bounty hunters) to those who would like to shoot the drug dealers, including those dealers who "work" in law enforcement and corrections and somehow manage to supply drugs to every prison and jail in the country.
You say I'm going too far over some edge?
Consider what has happened to your country.
It says above that 76% of Americans know an addict. If you had shot drug dealers (DEALERS, not mere users) for the last few decades, that would not be the case.
Oh, it would be "anarchy". No, it wouldn't be. You'd just not have many dealers---and far fewer addicts.
Treat addiction
If the present program is so bad use it to make changes and rewrite a new drug addiction program that will work.
