Editor, Times-Union: Mr. Bridgewater, Thank you for your letter, although, I do believe you misunderstood my letter. I don’t think I have an “If you build they will come” solution to the drug problem. I think I stated rather clearly that the main solution to the problem, in the long run, has to be the addicts. They made the choice to start taking the drug that has been proven to be addicting. They can be the only ones who can stop taking it.
It obviously can’t be forced on you; because the majority of meth users go back to taking it after their incarceration is completed. Even in cases where states have put “non-violent” addicts into a treatment system, “there are many challenges that impact the effectiveness and viability of interventions. High staff turnovers, citing issues, credentialing of staff, inconsistent training, poor monitoring, outdated techniques, and inadequate physical resources, are all issues that could negatively impact the quality of service and therefore the attractiveness of treatment to those who might benefit from it.” (McLellan et.al., 2003)
Another truth is that as long as people view themselves as victims, they cannot move forward. I think that when the learned people in the psychological or medical field refer to addiction as a “disease” they are giving addicts, who are desperately searching for someone or something to blame for their situation, a reason not to take responsibility. That is wrong. We do no one a favor by not teaching them to stand on their own two feet. And as far as you calling it a “mental disease” … I offer you, following, a definition of mental illness from the dictionary.
Mental Illness n. Any of various conditions characterized by impairment of an individual’s normal cognitive, emotional, or behavioral functioning, caused by social, psychological, biochemical*, genetic or other factors, such as infection or head trauma. Other terms for mental illness are: emotional illness, mental disease or mental disorder.
*Biochemical n. Relating to the chemical substances present in living organisms and the reactions and methods used to identify or characterize them. The chemical substances sent out by the neurotransmitters in the brain, such as serotonin, can be related to mental health conditions. **
**This is not to be confused with the cognitive choice to put foreign chemicals, i.e. Meth, into your body.
Again, I wish you success in your quest for a sober and happy life.
