Dont’ BE a SHEEP!

OVER 150,000 DEAD!

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I guess there are only so many different ways to look at the addiction epidemic. Reminder—88,000 year die as the direct result of alcohol. 65,000 die from overdose. Over 150,000 dead. The worst public health crisis in American history and it’s been going on for decades.

WHICH ONE ARE YOU?

1) SHEEPLE: You don’t even notice it. American Idol is on.

2) SELF-RIGHTEOUS: You notice it but due to your own skeletons in the closet you project disdain onto those with substance use disorder (probably because you have your own unresolved porn addiction or food addiction or your mom/dad had substance use disorder etc…).

You say “they did it to themselves I don’t care what happens to these people”. Your suggested solution to this issue is to build more jails. OR start executing drug dealers and probably sprinkle a few drug users in there for good measure.

Note: these 2 groups are unreachable. Their opinion is not important but we must note they exist.

3) COMPASSIONATE BUT MISINFORMED: You notice the problem. You are not completely sure what to make of it. You may or may not be directly touched by it. Regardless, you have great compassion toward people dealing with this issue. You are seeking info and want to help. (Perhaps some of our policy makers fall into this category).

But you are probably getting much of your info from the wrong people. The system insiders who are gonna play out the same old narrative. OR The academic who wants to talk all research. OR The “governors commission on opioids”. etc….

YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO SOME ALTERNATIVE VOICES AND ASK YOURSELF: DO WE NEED MORE OF THE SOLUTION THAT HAS RESULTED IN 150,000 DEAD YEAR OVER YEAR. OR SHOULD WE TRY SOMETHING NEW.

4) STATUS QUO: You acknowledge the epidemic. You see it for what it is. You have genuine concern.

Perhaps this has been your life’s work. But you view the problem as a) under utilization of an otherwise relatively adequate and “functional system”.

In other words it’s not a system or provider problem it’s an “non compliant patient problem”. OR b) lack of access to an otherwise wonderful and working system. OR c) your business model is working quite well thank you. Rinse and repeat is good.

Your suggested solution probably involves more money for more of the same services. AND PERHAPS SOME TWEEKS TO THE EXISTING STRUCTURE. But fundamentally you think everything is okay on the “solution end” if people would just “do what they are told”.

NOTE: I don’t know what to say to you. 150,000 dead a year seems to be evidence of a MAJOR FUNDAMENTAL problem.

5) RADICAL CHANGE AND NEW SOLUTIONS: You are deeply troubled by the issue and it’s clear to you that the ship is sinking. You know something is fundamentally wrong and the solution involves something brand new.

You have no beef with old school approach, in theory, but you notice it doesn’t work for the overwhelming majority of those in need. You love the people working in the system but you hate the system itself.

You watch with tears in your eyes as addicted people and their families are exploited to pass legislation that props up existing practices. And you watch with growing anger as the CDC reports another increase in the death rate. You don’t want the existing system to go away altogether but you aren’t naive.

You know incremental additions or changes will make ZERO difference.

IF YOU FALL INTO THIS CATEGORY WE SUGGEST YOU CHECK OUT AUTONOMOUS INDEPENDENT RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES. THE MISSING PUZZLE PIECE.

WE NEED THE PEOPLE IN CATEGORY 3 TO MOVE TO CATEGORY 5.

✌✌✌CATEGORY 4 WILL BE A TOUGH SELL.

What other categories exist? What category are you in?