It seemed like going into New Year’s Eve, I always said I wasn’t going to get out of control. And that starting first of the year, I would cut back. That never happened. The night would progress, so would the drinking, drugs, and bad decisions. The next morning was full of regret and disgust. The […]
Never Ask for Directions
Act like a man Be a man Man up Men don’t ask for directions Men don’t use instruction manuals From the start, little boys are taught to be tough. They hear things like “act like a man” or “man up”. And we all know that real men don’t need to ask for directions when they’re […]
But How am I Going to do THAT Sober?
I am tired of living this way. I don’t want to live like this anymore. I don’t know how to make a change. I am very confused about a lot of things, but the one thing I do know is that life will certainly be boring if I don’t drink or do drugs. That’s the […]
Expunction
Fresh Start Fresh Start. What an intriguing concept. Why would someone in recovery like me care about the idea of a fresh start? The answer is simple: being in recovery often leads to a desire for a new beginning. One of the consequences of addiction is a nonviolent criminal record. Having a criminal background poses […]
A Letter from Above
I am dead. I died from addiction. It is a horrible disease. The pain caused from addiction takes so many forms. I suffered. I don’t believe my parents or brother ever understood the suffering I endured as an addict. In fact, my brother for the longest of time,thought I was just stupid. For my parents […]
Substance Use and The Legal System
You are facing the challenges of a substance use disorder. It’s important to recognize that these are diseases, not indications of criminal behavior or moral shortcomings. Unfortunately, the current response from the criminal justice system in the United States often fails to address this reality. Many attorneys and judges lack understanding of substance use disorders, […]
Opioids…The New Boogeyman
Opioids. The word has come to denote the new bogeyman of the 21st century. Just as zombies exploded on the scene in Americana in the 1990’s, opioids are just as horrific today. The difference was the blood-sucking zombies were fictional and a source of great narrative, while opioids are the very real life draining epidemic […]