Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley – Creating a Real-World “Thriller Night”
As a writer and also a sort of addiction-ologist I cannot help but observe and reflect on the division of our nation as it pertains to Michael Jackson. The overarching question seems to be should we revere him or should we condemn him? Was he a Semi-God, or a monster? And the whole climate of confusion, as well as the depth of mourning, harks me back to the age of 9 and the death of Elvis Presley. I can remember foggily asking in those sad days…How could this be?
And I can see that it is a question we are all asking again.
And if you expanded this question it might sound something like this… “How could someone so talented, so gifted, so powerfully able to touch human beings have come to this?” And the very way that we were touched by Elvis Presley and later by Michael Jackson seems to indicate a depth of humanity in both that is starkly contradicted by their behavior.
So how do we reconcile this seeming contradiction? We look here and we look there. We split up and take sides. Demi-God-ers face off with Monster-ites. We argue amongst ourselves. Those who want to deny and forget the monstrosities condemn those who want to deny and forget the greatness of The King of Pop. And the same also happens in reverse.
Categories: Drug Abuse Tags: Addiction, Alcoholic, drug addict, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, substance abuser
Not Just a Heart Attack, But a Broken Heart
The stories that surround Michael Jackson’s life have gained much international attention for the last month. Never would one imagine that he would have stolen the hearts of thousands with his music, charm and talent, and would exit this life taking with him the tear drops of millions of people. On June 25, 2009 it was not just Michael Jackson that died, but many people died internally as they saw their music idol laid to rest.
Many criticisms from Anti-Michael activists have made it their obligation to defame, slander and water the image of the King of Pop to another drug addict that went above the law with his money and power. In some popular forums, thousands dish out their hate in three scathing words-’So Long Pedophile’.
It must be pointed out that the intention of this article is not to condone in anyway the questionable conduct of Mr. Jackson, but to point out one thing that was overlooked throughout these years prior to his comeback for an international tour, and that is, his heart.
Categories: Drug Abuse Tags: drug addict, drugs, Heart attack, Michael Jackson
Prescription Drug Abuse
What do you think of when you hear the words ‘drug addict’? Do all kinds of scary images come to mind? In my 13 years of working with people who have addictions, each one of them has been an ordinary human being caught up in extraordinary situations. Not one of them has ever wanted to grow up to be a drug addict. These people come from all walks of life, all demographics and who may be functioning or non-functioning with regards to their lives, jobs, etc.
One group of addictions that have been underestimated is prescription drug abuse. There seems to be a different mindset with regards to this addiction mainly because prescription drugs are seen as helpful, not harmful and that they are given to us by doctors so they are safe. This could not be farther from the truth.
Prescription drug use is on the rise in the arena of drug abuse. This is mostly due to the improper use of these drugs and the type of drugs themselves. Prescription drugs that most commonly become addictive are ‘narcotic’ based drugs. These drugs are painkillers mostly, but others are for anxiety, sleep disorders, muscle relaxers as well as stimulant and depressive drugs.
Categories: Drug Abuse Tags: Addictions, drug addict, prescription drug abuse
Vitamins and the Addict
For many years now it has become more apparent that nutrition played an important role in the life of a drug addict, alcoholic, methadone patient or other that might be chemically imbalanced. Today many are looking for answers to help solve the problem of nutritional deficiencies in alcoholics, drug addicts and methadone treatment patients. This search was pioneered by a group of doctors who developed a vitamin mineral supplement to help people with drug problems. Today more people are paying attention to this problem with their clients whom are in treatment. In many cases it is being added to their treatment plans. The big problem then is what course of action needs to be taken to positively affect a change in their client’s health and nutrition.
Many times the course of action to address the problem is to tell the person to start taking a “good” vitamin. Maybe they tell them to go to a health food store and try some specific product that might give them some relief. This can be expensive road to follow, trying to find the right vitamin supplement for each case. Vitamin B in various forms is most often recommended for low energy but that is just one issue. Then people are told another product to help other issues (Something for this and something else for that.). The result is that there is no real change because the treatment is not complete. The problems persist and sometimes even worsen. The person gives up and becomes skeptic towards the benefit of health and nutritional supplements.
Categories: Drug Abuse Tags: Alcoholic, drug addict, Health, methadone patient, Nutrition, treatment plans, vitamin mineral supplement, vitamin supplement
How Drugs Affects Households
Drug users are a threat not only to themselves but to their loved ones as well. It isn’t a question as to why you should put an end to your drug abuse as there are thousands of medical reasons in which if listed, could go on forever. But that isn’t the only case seeing that the usage of drugs doesn’t only affect one physically but also mentally and emotionally as well.
Research shows that when a parent falls into the depths of becoming a drug addict, they risk the chances of producing a happy family. Those who get addicted would be more interested in obtaining their substances rather than their kids homework, the plumbing and what’s for dinner tomorrow night. So the first fallout would be the bond within the family. There would be a gap in communication, in affection and in concern within the family which would result in troubled children with messed up childhoods.
Categories: Drug Abuse Tags: Drug Abuse, drug addict, drug users
