Discriminating drug addicts means discriminating the mentally ill

[LaraLara]

At least 50% of the mentally ill abuse drugs or alcohol (alcoholism). The reasons are varied. Many drugs can be used to selfmedicate (insomia is a very common problem in many mental health disorders that can be treated with drugs)

Others try out drugs because their sense for risk is temporarily or permanently damaged by the illness.

Mentally ill people are as well disproportionally often more poor searching for a way to escape their grim reality.

In dispensing harsh sentences against drug users society can do what it always wanted to do - punishing the "different" the mentally ill - without running the risk of being caught doing discrimination. I wish there would be more willingness to understand the difficult lifes of those concerned.

 

[Korean-American Christian]

In dispensing harsh sentences against drug users society can do what it always wanted to do - punishing the "different" the mentally ill - without running the risk of being caught doing discrimination. I wish there would be more willingness to understand the difficult lifes of those concerned.

I completely agree with you.

 

[MustardSeeed]

Mentally ill people are as well disproportionally often more poor searching for a way to escape their grim reality.
In dispensing harsh sentences against drug users society can do what it always wanted to do - punishing the "different" the mentally ill - without running the risk of being caught doing discrimination. I wish there would be more willingness to understand the difficult lifes of those concerned.

I couldn't agree more
I used to watch the show Intervention and it wasn't until that show that I really just began to grasp the reality of drug addicts - let alone mental illness and/or disorders
Only a person who has gone through a time of disordered thinking or a permanent mental illness can really know the desperation of wanting to escape the confinements of your own mind
It also doesn't take a highly empathetic or sensitive person to simply understand that

 

[bhsmte]

At least 50% of the mentally ill abuse drugs or alcohol (alcoholism). The reasons are varied. Many drugs can be used to selfmedicate (insomia is a very common problem in many mental health disorders that can be treated with drugs)

Others try out drugs because their sense for risk is temporarily or permanently damaged by the illness.

Mentally ill people are as well disproportionally often more poor searching for a way to escape their grim reality.

In dispensing harsh sentences against drug users society can do what it always wanted to do - punishing the "different" the mentally ill - without running the risk of being caught doing discrimination. I wish there would be more willingness to understand the difficult lifes of those concerned.

The quality of mental health in the United States is horrible and has gone downhill in recent decades, compared to other advanced nations.

Some people don't want to expend the energy and educate themselves on these issues and they only focus on these issues being a sign of weakness, rather than helping people. Motivation is the key to understand human behavior, not the actual actions of someone. If you understand why people are motivated to do certain things and address the same, you improve human behavior.

 

[YCGP]

I myself am an addict and alcoholic. I am receiving treatment, though one concern ways heavily on my mind: should I go to Alcoholics Anonymous or to Narcotics Anonymous?

I feel NA has a much larger stigma attached to it, so I AA seems like a better option; however, I am concerned that this is some kind of cop-out.

What to do...

 

[bhsmte]

I myself am an addict and alcoholic. I am receiving treatment, though one concern ways heavily on my mind: should I go to Alcoholics Anonymous or to Narcotics Anonymous?

I feel NA has a much larger stigma attached to it, so I AA seems like a better option; however, I am concerned that this is some kind of cop-out.

What to do...

Great question. May be good to consult with a professional in substance abuse, that is up on the latest treatment options.

The thing about AA, is it has been around forever and it has really not evolved much over the decades as we have learned more about addiction. There are some experts, that feel AA, is really outdated and doesn't work for many.

 

[LaraLara]

I myself am an addict and alcoholic. I am receiving treatment, though one concern ways heavily on my mind: should I go to Alcoholics Anonymous or to Narcotics Anonymous?

I feel NA has a much larger stigma attached to it, so I AA seems like a better option; however, I am concerned that this is some kind of cop-out.

What to do...

I am not a kind of drug counceler but because the addiction to many drugs is often even more difficult to overcome than to alcohol I would suggest NA. As an addict you are societies "freak" and it can be very helpfull to be in a group where you are not the freak.

 

[YCGP]

I understand where both of you are coming from.

New studies say that those who were successful in their recovery did it on their own.

I am required to attend a certain number of meetings per week, so I will continue to go to AA and NA though I may stop going altogether next month. I could do SMART and attend liturgy and pray.

 

[LaraLara]

I understand where both of you are coming from.

New studies say that those who were successful in their recovery did it on their own.

I am required to attend a certain number of meetings per week, so I will continue to go to AA and NA though I may stop going altogether next month. I could do SMART and attend liturgy and pray.

It might sound crazy but there is a certain form of praying with a kind of "necklace". I am not a christ but it should be calming.

 

[bhsmte]

It might sound crazy but there is a certain form of praying with a kind of "necklace". I am not a christ but it should be calming.

Can you be more specific?

 

[Desk trauma]

I wish there would be more willingness to understand the difficult lifes of those concerned.

...or at least we could stop criminalizing drug use.

 

[LaraLara]

Can you be more specific?

You want to prey?

 

[bhsmte]

You want to prey?

Can you answer the question?

 

[LaraLara]

Can you answer the question?

Personal experience, rythmic movments and words that are repeated in the same rythm can calm down an out-of-controll nervous system. A believer might even draw more of the experience, that is something I can not comment on as I don t have that experience. Hower I think many of the rituals of the church might make sense even if they look odd.

 

[Desk trauma]

You want to prey?

On what?

 

[bhsmte]

Personal experience, rythmic movments and words that are repeated in the same rythm can calm down an out-of-controll nervous system. A believer might even draw more of the experience, that is something I can not comment on as I don t have that experience. Hower I think many of the rituals of the church might make sense even if they look odd.

Different things work for different folks. Whatever is beneficial, use it.

 

[LaraLara]

On what?

I have a very bad spelling, sorry.

 

[LaraLara]

Different things work for different folks. Whatever is beneficial, use it.

You already have the experience when your nervous system goes nuts? If you have any good hints for such situation don't hesitate to share them.

 

[bhsmte]

You already have the experience when your nervous system goes nuts? If you have any good hints for such situation don't hesitate to share them.

Breath.

 

[LaraLara]

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