Feeling Angry With The Public
My sister is a crack addict, techinically a recovering one now, but I'm not really holding my breath. My mother is an alcoholic, but she hasn't had a drink in 16 years. One of my best friends killed herself after smoking a massive amount of laced dope and then swallowing pills her dealer gave her. She then proceeded to leave a note that made no sense and hang herself.
I have recentley started to become an active figure in my community when it comes to homelessness and addiction. The girl I look up to, and sort of my mentor, has organized a candle lit vigil in memory of all those who have died from addiction and for all those whose lives have been touched by addiction. I am helping drum people up for it.
It is also to try and bring the city's attention to the deplorable way addicts are treated in my city. The nearest drug rehab is almost four hours away, and the only way for an addict to get there is on their own will, without any help from our health system or government. We are having the vigil outside the city hall, then later in a park, so that we can bring to peoples attention the need for some sort of facility locally. The money is in the city's budget, but the people who run the ship refuse to see the rats running around. Our mayor, about five years ago, went public saying that our city of over 50 000 has not problems with homelesness or addiction.
Anyway, off track, I'm so appalled at how many people believe him!! I have invited many people, alot of them people I know well enough that they know my family's struggle, and they tell me that what happened to us was a fluke. That our city doesn't have a problem. I'm so upset that these people so willingly turn a blind eye. I thought these people that I knew had more heart and courage then that. It's like if they don't see them daily, they don't exist.
We have a few homeless people, who would talk to us and not rush off, tell us that often they are stopped by police and told to go down by the river so they are out of sight. Can you imagine being forced to sleep, in the winter, by a massive half frozen body of water? On the dirt?
Homelessness and addiction often go hand in hand. And I know I won't make a big difference, but any difference is worth it.
I have recentley started to become an active figure in my community when it comes to homelessness and addiction. The girl I look up to, and sort of my mentor, has organized a candle lit vigil in memory of all those who have died from addiction and for all those whose lives have been touched by addiction. I am helping drum people up for it.
It is also to try and bring the city's attention to the deplorable way addicts are treated in my city. The nearest drug rehab is almost four hours away, and the only way for an addict to get there is on their own will, without any help from our health system or government. We are having the vigil outside the city hall, then later in a park, so that we can bring to peoples attention the need for some sort of facility locally. The money is in the city's budget, but the people who run the ship refuse to see the rats running around. Our mayor, about five years ago, went public saying that our city of over 50 000 has not problems with homelesness or addiction.
Anyway, off track, I'm so appalled at how many people believe him!! I have invited many people, alot of them people I know well enough that they know my family's struggle, and they tell me that what happened to us was a fluke. That our city doesn't have a problem. I'm so upset that these people so willingly turn a blind eye. I thought these people that I knew had more heart and courage then that. It's like if they don't see them daily, they don't exist.
We have a few homeless people, who would talk to us and not rush off, tell us that often they are stopped by police and told to go down by the river so they are out of sight. Can you imagine being forced to sleep, in the winter, by a massive half frozen body of water? On the dirt?
Homelessness and addiction often go hand in hand. And I know I won't make a big difference, but any difference is worth it.
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