I once knew someone who touched my soul transcendent in his ways is witty remark
transcendent in his ways is witty remark
transcendent in his ways is witty remark sense of humor and infectious laugh to
sense of humor and infectious laugh to
sense of humor and infectious laugh to get a whole world roaring a young man
get a whole world roaring a young man
get a whole world roaring a young man who would walk into a room and light it
who would walk into a room and light it
who would walk into a room and light it up with just a smile people freezer
up with just a smile people freezer
up with just a smile people freezer someone always out for the underdog star
someone always out for the underdog star
someone always out for the underdog star soccer player and junior amateur golfer
soccer player and junior amateur golfer
soccer player and junior amateur golfer with the opportunity to go pro the
with the opportunity to go pro the
with the opportunity to go pro the expelled in work and at school an organ
expelled in work and at school an organ
expelled in work and at school an organ donor whose heart gave life to another
donor whose heart gave life to another
donor whose heart gave life to another but beneath all this good there was a
but beneath all this good there was a
but beneath all this good there was a dark side to him his addiction to heroin
dark side to him his addiction to heroin
dark side to him his addiction to heroin consumed his soul and changed him into
consumed his soul and changed him into
consumed his soul and changed him into someone I no longer recognized and
someone I no longer recognized and
someone I no longer recognized and although he stole and lied and
although he stole and lied and
although he stole and lied and prioritized drugs I could still see the
prioritized drugs I could still see the
prioritized drugs I could still see the glimmer of his heart during his spells
glimmer of his heart during his spells
glimmer of his heart during his spells of sobriety
of sobriety
of sobriety I saw the guilt and shame that
I saw the guilt and shame that
I saw the guilt and shame that accompanied every relapse as you would
accompanied every relapse as you would
accompanied every relapse as you would lie in bed for days hiding his
lie in bed for days hiding his
lie in bed for days hiding his excruciatingly withdrawal symptoms from
excruciatingly withdrawal symptoms from
excruciatingly withdrawal symptoms from a world desensitized to addiction I saw
a world desensitized to addiction I saw
a world desensitized to addiction I saw the fear in his eyes as he talked about
the fear in his eyes as he talked about
the fear in his eyes as he talked about death and what his children would do
death and what his children would do
death and what his children would do without him I know my brother did not
without him I know my brother did not
without him I know my brother did not choose that life there are 25 million
choose that life there are 25 million
choose that life there are 25 million people suffering with addiction and of
people suffering with addiction and of
people suffering with addiction and of those 25 million only 2.5 million will
those 25 million only 2.5 million will
those 25 million only 2.5 million will receive help that leaves too many people
receive help that leaves too many people
receive help that leaves too many people like me with a broken heart the public
like me with a broken heart the public
like me with a broken heart the public perceives addiction as a moral failing
perceives addiction as a moral failing
perceives addiction as a moral failing or as a choice even though scientific
or as a choice even though scientific
or as a choice even though scientific research has proven time and again that
research has proven time and again that
research has proven time and again that addiction is a chronic disease of the
addiction is a chronic disease of the
addiction is a chronic disease of the brain even the American Medical
brain even the American Medical
brain even the American Medical Association says that addiction results
Association says that addiction results
Association says that addiction results from a combination of genetic
from a combination of genetic
from a combination of genetic predisposition brain chemistry and
predisposition brain chemistry and
predisposition brain chemistry and environment so on one side we have
environment so on one side we have
environment so on one side we have science confirming addiction as a
science confirming addiction as a
science confirming addiction as a disease and on the other we have public
disease and on the other we have public
disease and on the other we have public perception which sees right past the
perception which sees right past the
perception which sees right past the facts of science
facts of science
facts of science looks at an individual with a genetic
looks at an individual with a genetic
looks at an individual with a genetic predisposition and suggests that he or
predisposition and suggests that he or
predisposition and suggests that he or she made a rational choice to be an
she made a rational choice to be an
she made a rational choice to be an addict when in reality being an addict
addict when in reality being an addict
addict when in reality being an addict is not a choice and I can assure you no
is not a choice and I can assure you no
is not a choice and I can assure you no substance abuser will tell you their
substance abuser will tell you their
substance abuser will tell you their goal in life to grow up and become
goal in life to grow up and become
goal in life to grow up and become physically dependent on the drug about
physically dependent on the drug about
physically dependent on the drug about three years ago I found a piece of paper
three years ago I found a piece of paper
three years ago I found a piece of paper on my brother’s nightstand just days
on my brother’s nightstand just days
on my brother’s nightstand just days after he’d overdosed on heroin written
after he’d overdosed on heroin written
after he’d overdosed on heroin written on this piece of paper was a list of
on this piece of paper was a list of
on this piece of paper was a list of goals he had hoped to achieve in life
goals he had hoped to achieve in life
goals he had hoped to achieve in life starting with being a good and loving
starting with being a good and loving
starting with being a good and loving father but nowhere on this list did he
father but nowhere on this list did he
father but nowhere on this list did he revealed that becoming an addict was a
revealed that becoming an addict was a
revealed that becoming an addict was a goal because it wasn’t the negative
goal because it wasn’t the negative
goal because it wasn’t the negative views in assumptions we have are rarely
views in assumptions we have are rarely
views in assumptions we have are rarely based on facts but rather serve as a
based on facts but rather serve as a
based on facts but rather serve as a scapegoat for a disease that society
scapegoat for a disease that society
scapegoat for a disease that society fails to properly address how many times
fails to properly address how many times
fails to properly address how many times have you heard someone referred to a
have you heard someone referred to a
have you heard someone referred to a person with substance use disorder as a
person with substance use disorder as a
person with substance use disorder as a crackhead a junkie a lowlife these
crackhead a junkie a lowlife these
crackhead a junkie a lowlife these labels are all too familiar and
labels are all too familiar and
labels are all too familiar and perpetuate the stigma surrounding
perpetuate the stigma surrounding
perpetuate the stigma surrounding addiction terms like these to humanize
addiction terms like these to humanize
addiction terms like these to humanize them take away from their identity tell
them take away from their identity tell
them take away from their identity tell them they are not good enough and
them they are not good enough and
them they are not good enough and instill an insecurity that is hard to
instill an insecurity that is hard to
instill an insecurity that is hard to recover from the idea that people with
recover from the idea that people with
recover from the idea that people with addictive disorders are weak and
addictive disorders are weak and
addictive disorders are weak and deserving of their fate is so deeply
deserving of their fate is so deeply
deserving of their fate is so deeply embedded into our psyche that we have
embedded into our psyche that we have
embedded into our psyche that we have trouble recognizing the catastrophic
trouble recognizing the catastrophic
trouble recognizing the catastrophic harm these beliefs have on society as a
harm these beliefs have on society as a
harm these beliefs have on society as a whole all of these combined
whole all of these combined
whole all of these combined stigmatization detract people from
stigmatization detract people from
stigmatization detract people from obtaining treatment and if they do get
obtaining treatment and if they do get
obtaining treatment and if they do get help what is currently available was
help what is currently available was
help what is currently available was over 500,000 Americans addicted to
over 500,000 Americans addicted to
over 500,000 Americans addicted to heroin the opioid epidemic warrants
heroin the opioid epidemic warrants
heroin the opioid epidemic warrants research dedicated to better treatments
research dedicated to better treatments
research dedicated to better treatments take the box on her example which the
take the box on her example which the
take the box on her example which the New York Times called the blockbuster
New York Times called the blockbuster
New York Times called the blockbuster drug most people have never heard of the
drug most people have never heard of the
drug most people have never heard of the article goes on to describe that its
article goes on to describe that its
article goes on to describe that its success is fueled by the exploding
success is fueled by the exploding
success is fueled by the exploding opioid epidemic and by federal officials
opioid epidemic and by federal officials
opioid epidemic and by federal officials who have promoted it as a safer less
who have promoted it as a safer less
who have promoted it as a safer less stigmatized alternative to methadone and
stigmatized alternative to methadone and
stigmatized alternative to methadone and suboxone is partly an opioid itself it
suboxone is partly an opioid itself it
suboxone is partly an opioid itself it can produce euphoria and cause
can produce euphoria and cause
can produce euphoria and cause dependency the high hopes presented to
dependency the high hopes presented to
dependency the high hopes presented to our communities have been tempered by a
our communities have been tempered by a
our communities have been tempered by a messy reality
messy reality
messy reality Suboxone has become both medication and
Suboxone has become both medication and
Suboxone has become both medication and dope a treatment with considerable
dope a treatment with considerable
dope a treatment with considerable successes and also failures it is
successes and also failures it is
successes and also failures it is diverted and misused it is sold on the
diverted and misused it is sold on the
diverted and misused it is sold on the black market and it can have serious
black market and it can have serious
black market and it can have serious medical consequences some other approach
medical consequences some other approach
medical consequences some other approach is warranted here there is a drug that
is warranted here there is a drug that
is warranted here there is a drug that is being used as an alternative medicine
is being used as an alternative medicine
is being used as an alternative medicine treatment for drug addiction in other
treatment for drug addiction in other
treatment for drug addiction in other countries ibogaine which may sound
countries ibogaine which may sound
countries ibogaine which may sound foreign to you is making sound in
foreign to you is making sound in
foreign to you is making sound in countries such as Mexico New Zealand it
countries such as Mexico New Zealand it
countries such as Mexico New Zealand it is naturally derived from a plant
is naturally derived from a plant
is naturally derived from a plant indigenous to West Africa it is not an
indigenous to West Africa it is not an
indigenous to West Africa it is not an opioid it is not addictive but it is a
opioid it is not addictive but it is a
opioid it is not addictive but it is a hallucinogenic in the United States it
hallucinogenic in the United States it
hallucinogenic in the United States it is classified as a schedule 1 drug
is classified as a schedule 1 drug
is classified as a schedule 1 drug therefore there’s no government funding
therefore there’s no government funding
therefore there’s no government funding Hertz research with the limited research
Hertz research with the limited research
Hertz research with the limited research that has been done of ibogaine appears
that has been done of ibogaine appears
that has been done of ibogaine appears to have shown a cessation of withdrawal
to have shown a cessation of withdrawal
to have shown a cessation of withdrawal symptoms and cravings following one
symptoms and cravings following one
symptoms and cravings following one single dose but these limited studies
single dose but these limited studies
single dose but these limited studies are not enough to consider it as
are not enough to consider it as
are not enough to consider it as treatment we need more research to
treatment we need more research to
treatment we need more research to determine if it is in fact an effective
determine if it is in fact an effective
determine if it is in fact an effective form of treatment the point is we
form of treatment the point is we
form of treatment the point is we shouldn’t be done looking we need to be
shouldn’t be done looking we need to be
shouldn’t be done looking we need to be aware of and open-minded to the
aware of and open-minded to the
aware of and open-minded to the alternative medicines that are out there
alternative medicines that are out there
alternative medicines that are out there without research though none of this is
without research though none of this is
without research though none of this is possible regardless of whether or not I
possible regardless of whether or not I
possible regardless of whether or not I began is legalized community will always
began is legalized community will always
began is legalized community will always be the backbone of recovery there’s a
be the backbone of recovery there’s a
be the backbone of recovery there’s a powerful documentary out there called
powerful documentary out there called
powerful documentary out there called the anonymous people which illustrates
the anonymous people which illustrates
the anonymous people which illustrates the importance of community support and
the importance of community support and
the importance of community support and people who are in recovery as I was
people who are in recovery as I was
people who are in recovery as I was watching this documentary there was an
watching this documentary there was an
watching this documentary there was an analogy that stuck with me and it went
analogy that stuck with me and it went
analogy that stuck with me and it went something like this today we look at
something like this today we look at
something like this today we look at addiction as a sick and dying tree we
addiction as a sick and dying tree we
addiction as a sick and dying tree we dig the tree up move it to another area
dig the tree up move it to another area
dig the tree up move it to another area or in this case a community we replant
or in this case a community we replant
or in this case a community we replant it in healthy soil nurture it give it
it in healthy soil nurture it give it
it in healthy soil nurture it give it all the love water and Sun that it needs
all the love water and Sun that it needs
all the love water and Sun that it needs and when it comes alive and it’s vibrant
and when it comes alive and it’s vibrant
and when it comes alive and it’s vibrant again we dig it up bring it back plant
again we dig it up bring it back plant
again we dig it up bring it back plant it into the same hole and become shocked
it into the same hole and become shocked
it into the same hole and become shocked when the tree gets sick again because
when the tree gets sick again because
when the tree gets sick again because community is a backbone of recovery the
community is a backbone of recovery the
community is a backbone of recovery the way we choose to respond to people who
way we choose to respond to people who
way we choose to respond to people who are in treatment are just getting out of
are in treatment are just getting out of
are in treatment are just getting out of treatment is not only good going to
treatment is not only good going to
treatment is not only good going to affect their well-being but it is going
affect their well-being but it is going
affect their well-being but it is going to have a huge impact on their desire to
to have a huge impact on their desire to
to have a huge impact on their desire to stay sober being in recovery and
stay sober being in recovery and
stay sober being in recovery and treatment and staying sober is such a
treatment and staying sober is such a
treatment and staying sober is such a beautiful thing it’s an accomplishment
beautiful thing it’s an accomplishment
beautiful thing it’s an accomplishment that deserves to be celebrated so the
that deserves to be celebrated so the
that deserves to be celebrated so the question then becomes where do we serve
question then becomes where do we serve
question then becomes where do we serve how can we change public perception
how can we change public perception
how can we change public perception because asking someone to change the way
because asking someone to change the way
because asking someone to change the way they think proves to be an extremely
they think proves to be an extremely
they think proves to be an extremely typical task to accomplish and because
typical task to accomplish and because
typical task to accomplish and because assumptions generally stem from a
assumptions generally stem from a
assumptions generally stem from a personal bias self-awareness is the
personal bias self-awareness is the
personal bias self-awareness is the first step we need to take take a moment
first step we need to take take a moment
first step we need to take take a moment to yourself and self reflect ask
to yourself and self reflect ask
to yourself and self reflect ask yourself do I have a personal bias do i
yourself do I have a personal bias do i
yourself do I have a personal bias do i scroll past that facebook article titled
scroll past that facebook article titled
scroll past that facebook article titled young girl dies apparent overdose and
young girl dies apparent overdose and
young girl dies apparent overdose and think to myself she did it to herself do
think to myself she did it to herself do
think to myself she did it to herself do I believe that an addict is unhelpful
I believe that an addict is unhelpful
I believe that an addict is unhelpful and deserving of their fate do I assume
and deserving of their fate do I assume
and deserving of their fate do I assume do I assume that addiction results from
do I assume that addiction results from
do I assume that addiction results from a lack of willpower asking these
a lack of willpower asking these
a lack of willpower asking these questions is hard but it allows us to be
questions is hard but it allows us to be
questions is hard but it allows us to be honest with ourselves and helps us
honest with ourselves and helps us
honest with ourselves and helps us recognize a bias we may never know we
recognize a bias we may never know we
recognize a bias we may never know we had we cannot sit idly aside while
had we cannot sit idly aside while
had we cannot sit idly aside while perfectly good people fall help pick
perfectly good people fall help pick
perfectly good people fall help pick them up withhold judgment and educate
them up withhold judgment and educate
them up withhold judgment and educate others along the way too so that moving
others along the way too so that moving
others along the way too so that moving forward my brother will no longer be
forward my brother will no longer be
forward my brother will no longer be referred to as the junkie who killed
referred to as the junkie who killed
referred to as the junkie who killed himself but rather as a young man who
himself but rather as a young man who
himself but rather as a young man who lost his life to a disease let’s instill
lost his life to a disease let’s instill
lost his life to a disease let’s instill hope and knows who our victim of this
hope and knows who our victim of this
hope and knows who our victim of this monster hope that one day there will be
monster hope that one day there will be
monster hope that one day there will be no more labels or assumptions associated
no more labels or assumptions associated
no more labels or assumptions associated with drug use hope that an alternative
with drug use hope that an alternative
with drug use hope that an alternative medicine will emerge to break the deadly
medicine will emerge to break the deadly
medicine will emerge to break the deadly cycle of addiction and hope God hope
cycle of addiction and hope God hope
cycle of addiction and hope God hope that your children never find comfort in
that your children never find comfort in
that your children never find comfort in a needle thank you
a needle thank you
a needle thank you [Applause]
”
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