The Methadone Mile (apartment, purchasing, assessment)

[Boston Shudra]

Originally Posted by lrfox

Similarly, it's far too early to praise the Mayor or the city for this. There's a reason that this particular area became a hotbed for drug related activity (namely, the concentration of shelters, drug treatment clinics, and drug dealers), and none of those have been directly addressed. As long as those factors remain, there will be always be rampant drug use in the area. There will be a continuous need for tents to be removed, bodies recovered, needles cleaned up, and dealers arrested. It's step one, and there's a long way to go before you see serious long term improvement in that area.

Considering what msRB311 just posted, I think the mayor deserves a tiny amount of praise for quickly putting measures in place to keep people from freezing to death on the street. A low bar, maybe, but still a good thing.

[msRB311]

I can certainly see the argument where some have more to live for than others. These people on cass and mass know no other way of life. Even if they do get clean what kind of life will they have? Many of them have mental and brain issues that stem from using drugs.

[lrfox]

Originally Posted by timberline742

It doesn't. Like any chronic disease, the person suffering from it is ultimately responsible for continuing their treatments. No one chooses to become and alcoholic, or an addict. I too have not known one of the people I know with substance abuse problems to consider themselves a victim.

But, if someone doesn't think of it as a disease and that helps them get clean and stay clean, that's awesome. Just keep doing it.

People are different, and treatments are different.

Good point, the important thing is to find what works for the individual.

Originally Posted by Boston Shudra

Considering what msRB311 just posted, I think the mayor deserves a tiny amount of praise for quickly putting measures in place to keep people from freezing to death on the street. A low bar, maybe, but still a good thing.

It's absolutely a good thing and I wouldn't exactly call it a "low bar." It's a big deal. But it's just one step in the long game and it's hard to say much more than that (good or bad) at this point.

[mdovell]

Originally Posted by timberline742

Right. There is zero way someone that doesn't want to get sober will get sober. You can throw all the money and resources you want at it (and plenty of companies under contract to the legal system will make $$ off of it) with nothing positive coming from it.

The other problem with this is the sheer fact that employers are far less apt to hire addicts. I know this because I have a relative that's been addicted for probably 15-20 years. He used to be violent and that's why most employer didn't hire. He'd use, get arrested for possession and be out again..and again.

He's had rehab a few times but he had a heart issue that really limited him. He's working now, that's how tight the economy. The general expectations of work and experience compound with age. It's harder even if sober because you literally have lost years. I'd almost argue sometimes prison is better because at least there's programs there.

You can't have a place enable or let a relapse happen. Group therapy works. AA works and I know people it's saved. But God forbid you have a CA or HA group in a town.

[GeePee]

Originally Posted by timberline742

Like any chronic disease, the person suffering from it is ultimately responsible for continuing their treatments.

That's a well put. You're right bout that. I just have seen too many people who are okay with this being their lifestyle. The alternative scares them more than being an addict and being surrounded by addicts.

[BOORGONG]

Originally Posted by GeePee

That's a well put. You're right bout that. I just have seen too many people who are okay with this being their lifestyle. The alternative scares them more than being an addict and being surrounded by addicts.

Yes, it would mean stepping out of their comfort zone. There is always a portion of the population that is attracted to the seedier side and likes to adhere to its f’up codes of behavior. There lies the irony of people who don’t want to be boxed in, but end up tied down in rigid misery like Dante’s inferno.

[bostongymjunkie]

You're talking about an illness with multi-causal factors including physiological addiction to a chemical. While there is a certain element in some people that involves being comfortable in the dysfunction they have grown accustomed to, it's hardly a conscious choice. Similarly, some people have existing co morbid mental illnesses, combined with addiction.

[WestieWhitie]

It will be interesting to see what will happen in JP now that the zombies whose plight was enough to induce enough heartbleeds and tears to create a flood of biblical proportions were relocated to within a striking distance of all the centre st artisanal cruelty-free mustache wax and kombucha shops instead of being contained at the very distant mass&cass, along with all the fentanyl-peddling thugs who ensure zombies stay zombie.

[GeePee]

Originally Posted by bostongymjunkie

You're talking about an illness with multi-causal factors including physiological addiction to a chemical. While there is a certain element in some people that involves being comfortable in the dysfunction they have grown accustomed to, it's hardly a conscious choice. Similarly, some people have existing co morbid mental illnesses, combined with addiction.

Indeed. As with any illness or addiction, I suppose rewiring the reward process is the toughest part. It's a long battle, but I think the most success comes from first treating the outlook of the addict. If they are hopeful for the future, the joys of being clean etc. they have a much better chance to do so. Picturing their life as a functional human is powerful. Having the network and peer system to encourage it is the long battle.

[GeePee]

Originally Posted by WestieWhitie

It will be interesting to see what will happen in JP now that the zombies whose plight was enough to induce enough heartbleeds and tears to create a flood of biblical proportions were relocated to within a striking distance of all the centre st artisanal cruelty-free mustache wax and kombucha shops instead of being contained at the very distant mass&cass, along with all the fentanyl-peddling thugs who ensure zombies stay zombie.

The fentanyl pedaling thugs? What about the methadone pedaling thugs ( same as the Narcan pedaling thugs)