Posts Tagged ‘addiction’
Lasso That Addiction
Last Updated on Thursday, 22 July 2010 10:50 Written by Monica Wednesday, 21 July 2010 02:50
In North Texas this week, a Utah man pleaded guilty in the death of his 5 year-old son back in December, 2008. A young boy, looking forward to a visit from Santa, instead went on to a higher place of excitement and eternity, leaving behind a heartbroken family. All because of a parent’s addiction to methadone.
This post is not about tearing down a father who, no matter what his sentence, will be serving his own self-inflicted life term. It is instead a post about how our addictions truly do affect those around us, and our younger children can become terminal victims by getting into the drugs we may have in our possession
When a person is addicted to drugs, when he or she is in the middle of that high, right and wrong, common sense, rationality, it all takes a back seat. Truthfully, have you ever woke up in the morning with a serious hangover from the night before, possibly not even remembering certain events? Did you ever smoke crack or take heroin and wake up, not necessarily remembering but instead, yearning for yet another fix?
If you are a parent of young children, or even if you have teenagers around, once you are out of touch with reality, you have no idea what they could be getting into. This does make you responsible. If you are lucky, nothing happens. At worst, maybe you catch your teenager stealing your cigarettes or some beer from the fridge and you ground him or her for simply following your actions. But if you aren’t so lucky, you could be like a North Texas family, a father from Utah, parents all over this country and others as well, losing a special blessing like little Lane, a bright and cheerful, smart and inquisitive young boy who already had dreams of what he wanted to do when he grew up. He wanted to be a cowboy.
If reading this makes you want to hug your own little ones a little closer, if it makes you want to re-think that addiction you secretly (or not so secretly) have, then don’t hesitate. Reach for the phone and make plans to get help now. Become what a parent truly is to a child, a hero who is always there. Do it for your sons, your daughters. Do it so that the death of little Lane was not in vain. If you make the decision to get clean based on the death of Lane Owen, you can know inside your own heart that he is up there looking down with a smile as he knows he has helped you win a tough competition, lassoing your addiction.
Tags: addiction, children, methadone, rehab teenagers | Posted under Texas Rehab | No Comments
“The Man”
Last Updated on Friday, 9 July 2010 12:08 Written by Monica Friday, 9 July 2010 12:08
Okay, now here is a good argument against drugs and for rehab. Many 
people on drugs argue against “the man”. So, for those who do? Think about this. More and more arrests are being made involving drugs and alcohol. More and more arrests mean more money for the court system, the officers, the city and the county, therefore the state, and therefore, “the man”.
Okay, this is not an article against politics but let’s face it, the first paragraph got your attention, right? The truth is, yes, there are more arrests. With the economy today, people are turning more to drugs and alcohol to forget, to feed their depression and to just get through the day, the night, the week.
But think about this: every dime spent on cocaine, heroin, marijuana, alcohol, every dime is taking away from helping yourself in other areas. You could put that money towards a class or trade school. You could put it in savings. You could buy a family board game and spend time with your children, memories that will last a lifetime in a much sweeter way than them witnessing an arrest and visiting you in jail.
Drugs and alcohol can make you forget the outside world for a little while but it will not go away. Sooner or later, we all have to face our actions and deal with the consequences.
Think about what is really important in your life the next time you make a drug deal or buy a case of beer that will be gone by morning with you being the only drinker. Buried within those walls you have put up is a person who once had dreams, a person who has loved ones, perhaps a spouse or children, a person who MATTERS. Yes, you matter.
I don’t apologize for using “the man” tactic as an excuse to get you to notice this article. I simply wanted to get your attention so that you get the true message of this article: with this economy, many of us are bound to feel sorry for ourselves, and yes, even with good reason. But sinking into the forgetful addiction of drugs or alcohol is not the answer. It puts us further in debt, sets a bad example for our children, and costs us everything dear to us.
This economy makes us feel out of control but guess what? There IS something you can control. You can a) stay away from the pitfalls of addiction or b) reach for the phone and call that number there at the side and get into rehab. The feeling of taking control of a seemingly hopeless situation will increase as you learn the tools to stay clean.
In this case, “the man” is really the addiction to drugs or alcohol. Stick it to him and show him you can overcome his power. Oh, and if you do not have insurance and you are broke? See what programs the government offers to help addicts get clean. A little-known positive in these rough times.
Tags: addiction, Alcohol, drugs, rehab, the man | Posted under Texas Rehab | No Comments
The Perfect Gift for Mother’s Day
Last Updated on Wednesday, 5 May 2010 10:02 Written by Monica Wednesday, 5 May 2010 10:02
Sunday is Mother’s Day. If you are on here researching how to get help because you have a substance abuse problem, I have good news for you. There is a woman who will help you unconditionally to get into rehab. Your mother. If you have a drug problem, there is no gift you could give her that could compare to getting into rehab.
She may have been frustrated a few times with you but she never stopped loving you. Picking up the phone and saying, “Mom, I want to get clean. I want to break the cycle of addiction” will be the most beautiful words she can hear if drugs have taken over your life.
Now stop right there. Perhaps you are saying to yourself that this does not apply to you because your mother has passed away or you are a mother yourself. Well, yes it does, actually. Making a Mother’s Day decision to get clean in honor of your mother would be the most beautiful gift you could give, not only to her memory, but to yourself and your other loved ones as well.
If you are a mother, don’t you want to be around to see that child’s first date? Be there to take pictures of him and his date as they stop by on the way to the prom? Be there for her wedding? Be there for the birth of his own son, your first grandchild?
Mother’s Day celebrates mothers everywhere. Moms do not want fancy jewelry or vacation trips away from you. A simple “I love you and I want to overcome my addiction so I’m going into rehab” will be the most priceless gift you can give her. By making this decision in a time of celebrating what a mother is, you are showing her that all those years of her love and prayers and strength were worth it because you felt it through the chains of your addiction.
By deciding to get clean during the special celebration of Mother’s Day, you are showing your children that you want to be a good mother to them, that you want to get away from addiction and became the wonderful mother they deserve and that they know you can be.
The time to get into rehab is now. No matter what time of year, the time is now. Every day, it is now. Yet, since we are about to celebrate Mother’s Day, what greater gift can you give in honor of such a special day? Make the call to the rehab center. Then make the call to the ones you love the most.
Happy Mother’s Day.
Tags: addiction, rehab, substance abuse | Posted under Texas Rehab | No Comments
What Does Health Care Reform Mean for Addicts
Last Updated on Wednesday, 24 March 2010 11:06 Written by Monica Wednesday, 24 March 2010 11:06
The health care reform bill passed. Now what does it mean? According to the front page of my local paper it means 13 attorney generals are already filing suit against it. Some people can barely feed their children in this economy. Many people skip meals because they can’t feed themselves and are thankful they do not have a child in this economy. Now the government is saying pay for health coverage or get a fine? What does this mean for someone with a drug addiction or, more likely, a dual diagnosis problem of addiction and mental problems? There is no straight answer. Every link, every meeting shown on TV, shows a different answer.
I can s
ee it now. A person can not afford health care yet finally admits he or she has an addiction problem that has damaged that person both physically and mentally. Drugs take away everything so you know that person isn’t eating or worrying about paying bills. He goes to get help and is told “Oh, you do not have health insurance. We need to contact law enforcement.” Hmm, sort of reminds me of the vet who went to a clinic stating he was suicidal and was told sorry, no room for you here and later killed himself.
The surprising thing about my article? I have always been a Democrat. However, I am turning more and more to a Republican view on this. Women writing hot checks to feed their children because they can not get food stamps, men working honey-do jobs for less than minimum wage just to make enough to keep the electric on that month, the stories are all over the internet and in our society. What will health care reform mean for those families and for the families of an addict? The Texas attorney general has joined in the suit.
Now I would love for every person to have health care insurance but to be penalized criminally for it? People who can not afford insurance are not criminals. I could never afford insurance as a single mother and was thankful that my children were covered under their father’s insurance following our divorce. I made sure to keep myself healthy and exercised and dieted and stayed away from things that could hurt me. That doesn’t mean I’m a saint. It doesn’t mean someone who is sick or can’t afford health care or is an addict is a lowlife, either. Addiction is a disease, cancer is a disease. Being poor should not make one a criminal yet that is exactly what the new health care reform will make those who can not afford it. Oh, and if you think the poor can go get government coverage, well, just ask the injured vet who keeps getting denied or the single mother who can not get food stamps so she goes without eating in order to feed her kids.
What does health care reform mean for addicts? Something tells me we haven’t seen the entire picture in this so-called scale of fairness.
Tags: addiction, dual diagnosis, health care reform | Posted under Texas Rehab | 1 Comment
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