I have been Portland (Oregon s) addiction examiner for couple of years or so now. I have written a body of work on addiction issues, profiles, stories, etc. with very little feedback. I don't get pd. (hardly anything at all) to write as a professional writer and I have to say there are times I just want to say 'Forget it! Why do I care?"
Then Examiner team alerts me that I have not written for awhile and could lose my title as Portland's addiction examiner---I go to this site, place in a title, and start writing about what I know better than anything else in this world as a recovered addict for 33 years coming up on 34 years (in June). What I know more than anything else in this world is that alcoholism and drug addiction kills many people!
That is the bottom line---but before it kills it screws with you. It takes you down slowly. Over the 30+ years I have working with addicts as a sponsor, mentor, friend is that while the addiction is doing it's inside job on body and mind it hides in a shadow and plays shadow games. (Negotiating Shadows) It says "you are fine!" and "no problem!" and "you can handle it, just slack off alittle!" And it lies to the public that pushes booze on every corner and on media.
Alcohol/drug addiction is a worldwide problem. Statistics say it is getting better, that people are getting smarter, more sophisticated, that the drink itself is higher quality, and so it goes---but all I know and all we who are on the front line know is that it is killing people more than ever before.
We as a public had better wake up, get concerned, get educated, ask more questions, insist on better ad policies from the booze pushers---because we need to care that this damn disease of alcoholism and drug addiction is a killer of men and women and children---of families---of communities---of nations---of a world that needs to become more aware---
It has a name---'Cunning, Baffling, Powerful' and It has a job---to kill the people that become addicted over time---and It is looking forward to our continued ignorance as to It's nature. I know CBP well, It almost killed me. But I had the good fortune to find a way out through programs, caring friends that surrounded me, and my Higher Powers will. And that is why my responsibility to give to anyone out there that wants a way out.
For more information on addiction issues read my many pages on this site and go to any local AA or NA website, talk to a counselor, a doctor, go to the library, google, bing, or whatever but seek help if you are an addict because CBP is waiting on you to ignore this article (http://www.negotiatingshadows.com)
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