Thursday, November 26, 2009

Anniversary #2

Wow. I totally missed my blog anniversary. This blog was started two years ago November 20th. I knew it was close and I thought it was today.

Any way, I hope all have a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

Carl

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Hmmm... not so much.

A friend of mine wrote something on his blog that while very nice, and I understand where he's coming from, it's just that I don't have the same feeling of hope.

At the place where I work there is a program for recovering addicts. Or rather, thats what it's supposed to be for. However , what I  see is a revolving door of recidivism. The "clients" come in, dry out, do the 12 step stuff, leave, fall into the same old shite and then they're right back in and begging to be let back into the program.

I know that there are success stories of recovery. My father, whom to the best of my knowledge is 35 years sober is one of them. I really think that there needs to be a seriously profound and scary shock to the person as the catalyst. Otherwise there isn't the goal or impetus for them to really want change.  For my father it was us leaving his abusive rages.

I've seen more than one person go through the devastation of a lifetime of drug and alcohol abuse. I have seen men that when I first met them 10 or so year back were intelligent, thoughtful  (when  sober) individuals. Then through the years, the poisons take their toll. Turning the people in more than one instance, blithering, drooling, or suspitious and paranoid.

And then they die.

I know that working at that place has changed me. I know that once upon a time I cared. Now, I try to see the best in people but sometimes, it's so far off that I need a telescope to see it.