Drug Wars

2012-02-14T00:17:00.000-08:00

The end.

2012-01-29T22:07:00.000-08:00

I certainly could not write an anti-gang commercial because i've never seen any on television, and i've never been in one.

2012-01-16T20:34:00.000-08:00

In memory of Dr. King day, and how in the US, as of 2008, 50% of the US prison populatin was African American, I wish high respect to anyone in the gangs, who got their lives together and junk. And I guess if being in a life like that was like addiction in my life, same thing. Basically getting a life that doesn't end a person being a stastistic or making sure you're doing that for yourself sooner then later is what i learned, is a good way to celebrate a holiday.

2012-01-13T22:24:00.001-08:00

That man uses drugs. I'm suing the news. It's promoting drug use as well. Alright, bye.

2012-01-12T19:50:00.000-08:00

I will even say that, because of the 20,000 people on wikipedia in a gang, 80% of the FBI US violence, and no programs for that. That's why will say I say that. Boo ya.

2012-01-12T19:41:00.000-08:00

I believe that President Barak Obama likes gang bangers, I might be way off here. But if I had a problem with a gang banger, i would tell them to get their life striaght, I mean like no matter what they did in the past, they can work for a better future, unless they were on a breathing tube or something, which is a reality that isn't funny in a gang life. But I believe that all the gang people I have met and who have impacted my life, will actually go into the programs and learn something about something, that it's cooler to be the ER doc, then to be the one with the bullet and an excuse. And anyone who focuses on that, who i know or not, I honestly do give a lot of respect for that. (sorry, for the president thing, that was a consipircacy therory)

2011-12-26T18:00:00.000-08:00

http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/11/world/africa/somalia-50-cent-visit/index.html?hpt=iaf_c2

Congrats on anyone getting out the gangs, one day you too can be like 50 cent only working hard. i know that. i know people who know that. most people do know that. i hope they do at least.

2011-12-26T17:57:00.000-08:00

I'd rather have a job/career then be an addict or whatever. Just me in reflection. But I went to school for that for a bit, and did do better for my life for a bit and such. but i wouldn't rolemodel any of that old behavior, although if a person needs help with addiction, i'd check out the meetings and such as well.

2011-12-26T17:56:00.001-08:00

and maybe if you start young enough with the weed, you can grow up to be

watch these and use heroin (some not for kids)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lq5P5vW49e4&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXxD3fyF1WM&feature=fvsr
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eNwTrT99rU&feature=fvsr
http://www.youtube.com/verify_age?next_url=http%3A//www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DpVRO_a6pQB8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtL_PasQefI&feature=related

uncoolness of marijuana

2011-12-26T17:54:00.000-08:00

The current anti-marijuana ads on tv, it's kind of hard to show the impact of marijuana on a person really. If you show a car crash, people are typically like, yea right, not me or not realistic for me or whatever. Or that you won't have any friends if you smoke marijuana, well people who use drugs tend to associate with each other. So if a teenager smokes weed, and hangs out with those people, then they are introduced and start socializing with the "drug crowd" which could lead to other drugs, since thats what drug users do. Which could potentially lead to a life time of in and out of rehabs and sticking needles in their arms. But kids can't see that when they hang out with smoe who parties all the time.

But realistically, is marijuana causes short term memory impairments. And the brain is developing during a teenagers years. Plus thats when people are in high school. So basically, marijuana will make the high school student not do as well in school. For instance if a high school student is gets high the day before class, the marijuana is still impacting the memory portion of their brain, which makes them not be able to listen and pay attention very well in their class. Being that high school is the time that determines if they go to college or what job trade they pursue, how the kid does in school is important. So if they are smoking marijuana, they will probably not end up getting as good of an adult lifestyle as if they were focusing on school and trying to get a better future. Basically, teenagers tend to not be able to see past the nose in front of their face, but I'd let them know that their actions then impact their lives. And the more they put into then, the literally monetarily richer future they potentially could have (people who focus more on education tend to make more money then substance abusers)

Families of addicts

2011-12-26T17:53:00.000-08:00

http://parentsofanaddict.blogspot.com/
http://heathersmom1.blogspot.com/

These are two links to families of addicts so you can here from the horses mouth I suppose as to more of how a family is impacted by addiction. But 1 active addict can do a lot of damage, and not even care. It's hard especially if the addict is younger for a parent to separate themselves from the addict themselves. But after following these two guys for a year now, I will tell you, they have unfortunately done what they had to emotionally.

All I can say from an ex-addict perspective or in other words a recovery perspective is that a family cann't change the addict. They can only let the addict know how their lives are impacted and protect their lives from typical addict behavior. Unless the addict is a minor.

But in anyway, just like AA and NA are supports for the addict, I would encourage any family of an addict to find support with each other.

mentality of major addicts

2011-12-26T17:52:00.000-08:00

As an addict, I didn't have the same thought patterns as "normal society people" Normal people have the ability to drink a beer socially then walk away and are ok. An addict has to drink one beer, then the trip to see the buds at the bar turns into a night of 20 or more beers, followed by a week binge. Normal people have jobs to pay for their families and bills and for the finer things in life if they get paid enough, or just for something to do (work is my life type deal). Addicts work to get money for drugs which they get to injest quickly so they have to go to work another day just to get drug money.

Drugs tend to numb a person. A family member of an addict for example. They may be like "why is my addict brother acting like he doesnt care when he pawns my TV? All I want is to help him and for him to get sober"" Just as an example.
The addict generally doesn't care about other people. Where the family of the addicts number one priority is basically helping the addict to recover, the drugs numb the addicts emotions to the point that the addicts emotions aren't the same. So if a loved one is dealing with an addict, they should keep that in mind. I cared about people again personally when I got sober, b/c my emotions weren't numbed with drugs. And yes, playing on peoples emotions, including drug counselors I saw, were something I did quite well in my addict days.

An addict may still care for their family or loved ones and what not. But they are unable to show it sometimes do to the parts of addiction such as the cravings, the lifestyle and the fact that the center of the world is the next high.

Most hardcore active addicts are like zombies going around doing junk to get their next high, not caring about themselves or others in the process.

When I was on heroin, I had cravings. Like every part of my body wanted the feeling of the high. I had used to live for that high. And if I didn't have it in the while it's like the wanting feeling took over my mind as well and thats when drug seeking behavior or "carpet picking" for cocaine users comes in. It's really not self respectful behavior.

Basically, as an addict, I was stuck in a cycle. I wanted to change my life, but since I had used for so long, I couldn't even comprehend what that meant really. It meant changing everything about how I lived, thought, and what I did daily.

genetics and addiction

2011-12-26T17:51:00.000-08:00

I´m not to sure of exact sciences in relation to drug addiction and genetics. I know there have been numerous studies done to see how addiction is passed down from family to family member. Personally, I believe for me it was more environmental (life circumstances) that got me into hardcore addict mode. I do know that people who come from addict families or alcoholic families are twice as likely to be users themselves. There are numerous studies showing that there are genes linked to addiction. What can a person really do about that though? Saying that addiction is genetic based kind of makes it sound like a user who comes from a fucked up family is doomed to be a junky for life. Then you have people with good families who end up with addict kids. Yes, then the parents blame themselves. Totally genetics. Although I´m sure there is some kind of addict gene somewhere in space time continum of our gene pool, I know it´s not a main factor. Perhaps it´s more brain chemistry. Anyway it goes, I feel that environment is probably a stronger factor, at least it was for me.

So how to break that environment? Find a new one. For me, breaking my addict environmnt, meant for liek 3 or 4 months, I had to get a whole new circle of friends which was NA-AA till crazy wierdos moved me. It took commitment though to not go to the drug spots and crack houses. Yes, the NA people helped me (new environment), and they were wierd too.

The Brain and Addiction

2011-12-26T17:43:00.000-08:00

A hardcore drug addict isn't just like, hey, I want to rob and prostitute and whatever to live my life and feed my addiction. In my prime addiction, which thankfully i'm not banging anymore, I couldn't stop, and I couldn't figure out why. It wasn't that I was a horrible person, through education, which I'm thankful I had the opportunity to recieve, I learned it was my brain.

The pleasure centers of the brain are the nucleus accumbens, the attypdale and the hippocampus. Addictive drugs tend to flood these parts of the brain (the pleasure centers) with dopamine. Dopamine is a brain chemical along with serotonin. When dopamine and serotonin flood the brain in the pleasure centers it creates a rapid sense of satisfaction. This good feeling, although it only lasts a few minutes, is what is known as the 'high'.

Neurons in the brain typically hold the brain chemicals and release them slowly. Every human being needs dopamine and other such brain chemicals to live and function. The neurons typically release these chemicals and they move to the receptor cells in the brain but the chemical release is regualted and controled.

The reason people get addicted to any substance is that once the neurons that hold the brain chemicals rush all of the dopamine etc. out, the neurons that hold the "dopamine" or whatever are then empty and a regulated release of these chemicals isn't possible. So, the addict tends to feel depressed or have withdrawal symptoms because they don't have a well balanced brain and Cherrio's (balanced meal, not a good joke) wont fix it.

So, with an empty neuron, with no chemicals in it, the neuron deforms. This is because it is empty and has no chemicals in it to keep it's original form. This causes brain damage.

It's a neverending cycle really. Get high, come down, feel depressed, withdrawal, and for the hardcore it gets to the point that you have to use to feel normal. This is because the brain chemicals are so out of wack and the brain is damaged, so the regulated release is no longer possible. I got high just to feel something because my brain was so out of wack I needed some kind of feeling I suppose.

I guess the good news is, is that the brain can repair itself. Well, really it depends on how much damage is obtained. And it takes time. You don't just quit eating MDMA and in 24 hours have a normal brain. It takes years for your dopamine, gabba, or seratonin levels to get back to normal, and if the neurons are still disformed, i'm not sure of the repairability of those. But the achievement of a hardcore addict of a normal brain, is a flippin awesome reward to the quitting process.

2011-12-12T21:31:00.000-08:00

Maybe thats why people join the gangs though, as oppose to the career thing. Probably the social baby mama drama plus the everything comes easy and such I guess is easier then thinking long term maybe. Like in college, I wasn't planning my retirement fund or anything, but i was trying to plan how even though studying sucks now, in 5 years I'll be paid consistently and junk right? vs. i guess the gang thing, where MAYBE people don't think 5 years down the road about how they will probably be living for free just next to an ugly bunk mate or something probably. instead of with the money with nice lamps and kittens and stuff.

2011-12-12T21:27:00.001-08:00

like that moral oral dude on the tv maybe, but get a job type deal.

2011-12-12T21:23:00.000-08:00

I guess the point i was getting to with all that, is that i guess maybe people or whatever who have problems and such can totally make it and be all happy and junk in a productive way i believe if maybe they have more opportunities and understand that maybe they have to work through obstacles and that is probably the point.

picking a career type deal

2011-12-12T20:52:00.000-08:00

I think that thinking I had the AIDs and staying in college wasn't so hard. But I was scared of the testing, and always put it off. I think it wasn't so hard in the college because I was pretty much busy all the time.

But the thought of being that age kind of upset me and such. So I guess, in thinking about that with a career and such, I can see how a lot of people might end up at a young age not even wanting to try that route.

But I guess for the most part, I was so busy, I didn't honestly focus on that too much, and I knew that the career I was going to go down, would maybe help other people stay off that route.

And when I was picking that career for me, I knew I was good at it, knew about it, and with all the life circumstances that I had to deal with, would probably be able to do well in it (petty juvenile stuff, health, siezures, all that)

2011-12-12T20:12:00.000-08:00

College or undergrad. I remember just going to the classes, and then hitting the gym maybe jogging with the anorexic chick once a week or so, twice a week at 2pm i'd have to meet up with the big brother big sister committee, then i had the homework, in between the part time job and volunteering at the drug treatment center, where i was going to do my career so was networking at. on the weekends, i got to bowl and go to stupid movies.

In the high school, i remember hanging out with a lot of people and partying and such. I know that some of the people from then probably grew up and joined the gangs and stuff right?

Then I remember after college going to my hometown, and being like damn. Things are messed up with people.

I wish that some of the people who ended up doing the gang thing, would be able to experience that, and then understand how uncool that other life is "yo, yo'ing" it not only for themselves but for other people too i guess. At least for some of the ones who obviously really liked me. Should probably try not the gang thing i guess. Fun times.

I know that in college, I remember I thought I had the AID's, but it turned out I didn't after 4 years of getting the courage to get tested. But I still did all that junk anyway, because i wanted a real career. It was fun and such in the process. And I made an awesome resume, and could get a career easily.

2011-12-11T20:06:00.000-08:00

http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/11/world/meast/syria-unrest/index.html?hpt=wo_c1

Thats all they need there then is to be like the US, and get people out of the groups that do all that and into college then. Then all that wouldn't happen. And then they can totally learn about human rights, and can stop protesting for them. And be all educated about all that. Because it is equal opportunity and such.

2011-12-11T19:52:00.000-08:00

I think that felonies are more common now a days in the US anyway. But I know they have the state "job re-entry thing" right and such. The problem with that the way it is, I guess the amount of people and such maybe. If 100% of the people who go into that program have the felonies, and enough money to end up in the same neighborhood and such, because maybe that's all they knew before they got locked up, well, I guess it would be hard for them to stabalize their lives and not end up in a revolving door back into prison, unless they get a good opportunity and the counseling to help stay on a positive track, with whatever they got going on in their life other then something with another felony. And I guess, what I got out of my 6 months of "training" I guess if people have the education/job training and such, as opposed to just a temp, "I'm going to steal the truck!" type thing, they are better off I guess maybe.

2011-12-11T18:33:00.000-08:00

http://www.nygia.org/RESOURCES/AGANGFREENEWYORK/tabid/78/Default.aspx

I read that right? I guess that is a law enforcment thing or something, i don't know. But I guess you have some really really poor neighborhoods in NY right? Well thats wonderful! So if they have all of these prevention organizations from getting into a gang life and such, well maybe taking that as very important would probably help, from any angle. From the prevention organization and what those focus on as well as access and stuff like that right?

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2008/0331/p02s01-usgn.html

I guess that teh city of NY actually does have programs like that to help people get out of that life, so thats wonderful too!

So, I guess like the CBS thing right? What does a person, who might have had a felony or something supposed to do, when even normal people are having problems finding jobs after college? I thought about it, and if a person can hustle on the streets, they can hustle a career, and probably do well in it.

But then of course, you have the variences. Like the felony to job program (the only one in the state of NC) had some dude steal a truck from his job placement so they never hired any felons again. But if given the opportunity, education, training whatever to do well, with the drug treatment and such I guess that probably would maybe help.

In undergrad I did the project safe neighborhood research. I spent 6 months where thats all i was supposed to do was write a paper on that. Then if going out into a community, it still looked the same, and I couldn't figure out why.

It was in a setting where there were like a team of PhD people right? The only problem is, is I honestly know they had funding and such, I guess I thought it was a community type program, but maybe it's just the police training? Well, that is probably where that program is a little off. "My cousin got shot by a gang banger, so I have to call the cops and another" blah blah. But if a cop walked up to my door with a college scholarship, I'd take it and wouldn't be on the streets anymore? I don't even know what I'm getting at, but I don't think that just reacting to a problem is going to make sure that there is a solution, other then that.

But if a person has the felonies, and it is difficult to find a job and such, all I can say is look at where you are at in you're life. Like for instance, I chose to go into addiction treatment for a degree and psychology, just because it's a field that is always accepting people and such, as well as you can open you're own business in that field. Lisensure and something or other with ugly people. But there are no background checks, and I'd have the "learning" on how to be a success so it wouldn't go under and such. As well as 4 years of college level shaking hands and getting networked in my area of specialty, which helps with the jobs afterwards. The more you do that, and the less you attend frat parties everynight, the better off it is to get in with a company.

I know that 9/11 and the airplanes totally messed up everywhere, it's over. But I know that since then, every person who ever wants to work at Waffle House has to get inspected to make sure they aren't going to do that. So if that is the case, then I guess the options would probably be to work really hard to get around that.

2011-12-07T20:17:00.000-08:00

When I first got out of undergrad, what I did was basically just call businesses that were in my major, and ask to speak with the "boss" and then ask if I could send them my resume, and checked back. And that doesn't always work, like it kind of did, but it would probably work, because thats what the lady who did the resume class said to do in college.

2011-12-07T20:13:00.000-08:00

I don't even know if CBS was spot on or anything really, http://premiumbeat.jobamatic.com/a/jobs/find-jobs/q-Web+Designer/l-Los+Angeles,+CA
but I googled web design jobs in california, and there were a list of them. So I guess they are out there, i guess it's just if it's going to be a career thing or I honeslty don't even know. Glasses.

2011-12-07T19:43:00.000-08:00

I guess there was some new gov law job thing as well. get a job doing that is the best bet.

2011-12-07T19:41:00.000-08:00

http://briankim.net/blog/2006/08/top-10-reasons-why-college-graduates-cant-get-a-job/

Some smart dude wrote this, so don't do anything that is on that list, and you will get a job.

2011-12-07T19:36:00.000-08:00

And I guess as far as CBS goes, I honestly don't even know. I applied for a college recently, and it had a 26% graduation rate. Maybe that's why people can't get jobs. Either that, or people just aren't looking hard enough.

http://www.bookrags.com/articles/49.html

That tells you everything you need to know. So then people aren't rude when they don't hire you.

2011-12-07T19:26:00.000-08:00

http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/05/world/meast/iraq-ashura-unrest/index.html

And sorry, I had to backtrack to CNN for a minute. Can you people please stop doing that?

2011-12-07T19:16:00.000-08:00

Ok, so you graduated college, and can't find a job. What do you do?

Well, all I know is monster.com, doesn't work. I posted my resume on their once, and it's all junk mail in the return.

But I don't even know if that CBS thing is accurate or anything, but all i know is that, if a felon can find a job in CA, that i'm sure other people can. Maybe the website person couldn't find a job, because it was a trend to go into that field awhile ago, but currently, there are so many specialist, it would probably be best to start you're own company maybe if you knew what you were doing and could hire others or something. I can't even advise taht, but all i know, is that if I was qualified for one job in a company, and they had like one spot for it, I would settle for a opening position to work up to whereever my degree had for me and such. In undergrad I know I networked a lot so it would help when i graduated to get a headstart on teh job thing, and that actually helped for grad school too then.

2011-12-07T19:10:00.000-08:00

Since it's clear that I'm on a CNN mission, (basically, it's uncool to be in a gang, whether people who think it is say that or not) but it's all good, i'm switching to CBS.

> > http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_162-57336405/unemployment-leading-to-california-exodus/?tag=contentBody;cbsCarousel
> >
> >
> > http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_162-57336409/6m-young-u.s-adults-live-with-their-parents/?tag=strip

I'm going to try to do working after college now.

2011-12-05T21:45:00.000-08:00

I did figure out a way to sue CNN, an maybe a few people read this, since i did check the log, so therefore, if anyone reads this, they can send $10 and something as soon as i get my p.o. box set up. if not, then i guess CNN will just have to mail a check so i don't have to sue them.