For the next month our streets..News feeds,TV's and Newspapers will be full of faces, all vying for your vote.
Get engaged..
This is your opportunity to make your voice heard.
Addiction is stealing a whole generation of our Children..If we, as a community ,don't speak up, it will continue.
When they come knocking at your door..Ask the tough questions.
I am always amazed, how little, people understand about the epidemic ,we have exploding on our not so Gentle Island.
We have an Opportunity with our small size to be leaders in Addiction and Mental Health.To show the rest of Canada, what compassion, empathy and investment ,in our most vulnerable, can accomplish !!
We are known to be one of the most generous Provinces, when it comes supporting causes,Runs,Telethons,Food banks etc.
Addiction does not have Luxury of Tapping into those resources.Addiction is hidden..silenced..It is the Black Sheep of diseases,Not something people want to lend their name too.
Yet here we are,Thousands suffering in silence.We need to embrace Addiction and Mental Health as we do all the other diseases that Kill people.It Does Kill.We need to ask the tough questions,demand better treatment,take it out of the dark where it doesn't belong and out into the light to save lives.Stop the Stigma and Shame !
We need more education..programs for the front line staff at the hospitals..Addiction Centers..Mental Heath Facilities..Jails..,Those who deal with our children.WE need to make them feel like human beings with a Disease instead of second class citizens,who deserve what they get !!!
We need an In-Patient Rehab..Not just for youth..But for adults also.Evidence tells us that an intensive 90 day In-Patient Program is the best start of a good treatment plan.
We need more Recovery Homes, to help them move on to the next step..Getting their life back !!
Evidence tells us the brain needs to heal..circuits need to reconnect..Wounds need to heal..They need to re learn how to live..This takes time..they need new strategies..tools..coping skills..learn to love themselves again..giving them a reason to live.
We need Treatment in the Jails,Since that's where many end up..If your not going to offer treatment instead of incarceration..Then you had better offer it to them in the Jails..Do you really believe simply throwing them in jail for 30,60,90 days for petty crimes, that is in fact ,a" symptom" of their disease, is treatment ??...or a deterrent ??..where 90 percent are in there for addiction related crimes.That is the perfect place to initiate a treatment plan..I'm not talking support programs..Support programs work best DURING and AFTER treatment..Treatment isn't throwing them in hole to detox on their own for days on end..That's inhumane!! How's that tactic been working for ya by the way..NOT
Education in the schools...Not the "JUST SAY NO TO DRUGS" But Peer to Peer..That's who they are going to listen to..again Evidence shows us this is the most successful programing !
Pick anyone of these..or one of your own..But let's come together as a Community..a Province..and make our voices heard at the door for those who can't speak for themselves.Let's educate the Politicians..All of the above are cost saving for them ,in both the short term and long term.
A Young Woman explained to me, recovering from Addiction is like awakening from a coma..Yes she was detoxed..Body clean of drugs..But her brain was still badly damaged..and her body and soul badly broken..She had re learn skills all over again..She had to come to terms with her actions, when the addiction hijacked her brain thinking of nothing..no one..but to get that next fix.As her brain slowly healed..She was awakened to the all the casualties this disease had caused.Through in-patient treatment that encompassed both her disease and mental health,Followed by 6 months in recovery,And on going support programs in the community she is now living a productive,Fulfilling life.She's knows she will never be cured but feels she has all the tools to remain in recovery and move on with Life!!
Are we Compassionate enough,As Islanders to offer all those suffering with Addiction and Mental Health the same opportunity ?
I Think so...xo
Ask The Questions..Educate Them !
Another Holiday..As far as I have come in my own recovery, I wonder if we ever truly fully recover, from our child's turbulent journey..
Most of us are sentimental creatures..We love to think back on holidays past..when are children were small and we loved to see the excitement in their eyes,The family gatherings and so much love and laughter.That's what memories are of..The Happy Times..Family.
Addiction changes those memories.
This Easter my son is in recovery,but we all know this can change.. at anytime ...and the cycle starts again.We must learn to make new memories.
I wish this Journey on no parent.Every now and again the nightmares come back.Last night was one of those nights.I actually had to open his door to make sure he was there.
I guess that's what brought me here today..
Never give up hope..
Miracles happen everyday..
Today we celebrate a Miracle..xoxo
Happy Easter
Ok..Mamma's on a rant !!
I just read an article with the headline" Should Enablers Be Charged With Involuntary Manslaughter ?"
I refuse to link to it and give them more hits then they deserve( as they no doubt, get paid by the number of hits) but the utter absurdity of it makes my blood boil !! Pssst..If you do come across it,don't bother leaving a negative comment on it because it won't be published ( ask me how I know ).
This is a site that is well developed to the eyes..But it is a site that promotes recovery homes..not an educational site on addiction..with facts or scientific based evidence.It is a money maker..Billions, I might add for private enterprise on the backs and lives of OUR children !
The writer of this post gets paid !!! A person in recovery herself, who early on, developed a following from other parents, reaching out to them for help,Reading their poems,story's posted on every online group or facebook group going.
I'm not going to pick apart the article,I refuse to give them that much attention !!
My purpose is too speak to parents.Please Please educate yourself on Addiction !! Please work on your own recovery ,so leeches like this will NOT take advantage of you..Advantage of your Child who is ill with a disease/disorder..Addiction is not a crime..It is a health issue !! They don't care about us or our children..They want your money.Do your homework on these sites..these homes that offer false claims..false hope..when your desperate to help your child! There are many good homes out there..Do your homework!!
I'm sure I may have shared this story before,But I'm sharing it again.
A mother confided in me, her family spent 38,000 dollars to send her son to an "Supposedly" upscale rehab for a 28 day stay..Full of promises..Two days in her son left..It was a week before she found out ( her son finally called her..NOT the rehab).When she contacted the place to ask why she wasn't informed..Confidentiality was the reason given!!!!! The reason became quite clear in her next Question,What about any refund due since he only stayed 2 days!! NOPE no refund..It was his choice to leave.Yes he can come back..for another 38,000..his bed that was paid for 28 days) ?..that he left..has been taken. Not bad money they made in 2 days 76,000 dollars !! It was only 1 week into the month.There are many good rehabs,recovery homes,programs out there..Some are free!!! Others a minimum amount..Just do your homework !!
These are people who should be charged with Manslaughter..Not Involuntary ,as they know EXACTLY what their doing..Ask them for the stats..Ask them how many of their residents are still in recovery after their 28 day stays.They won't share that info..Why ? Because they don't track them..Why ?..Because they don't care..Why ? Because they just want your money!! Why ? Because your Child just didn't want it bad enough..Bull sh*t !!
This Article,( If you hadn't already guessed) Made my stomach sick !! Bullying and Fear mongering at it's finest.To have a broken parent ( just as sick as their child) believe, that they could be charged in the future for enabling.. Sending them into panic mode to one of their homes to be saved....Ludicrous!!! Leaving parents to believe..yet again..It's their fault..BULL !! Most of all.. Shame on these parents selling themselves out to these criminals by writing articles for them !!!!
Please get educated on addiction..Please get yourself well..xoxo I'm beginning to really hate that word "Enabler" !!!
