I meant to share this story yesterday, since it was Thanksgiving and i have lots to be thankful for, especially for the people I've met here. Thank you for all your support!
Anyway, I work for the Department of Welfare, over 20 years. I meat a lot of people with addiction problems. I'll be honest, I'm one to judge them because I never had a problem, so I cant see why they do. You can stop. Well, needless to say I see things in a new perspective now. I'm one of them. Imagine that!
I interviewed a man on Wednesday. He had never applied for benefits before, he's 50. He was just released from prison on a work release program. He was missing one of his front teeth. As I was talking to him, he felt the need to spill his guts to me. I did not tell him anything personal about me... for whatever reason he just felt the need. He started by saying, "addiction doesn't discriminate". I let him continue.. it was like he was sent to me for a reason. He said he had been an addict, and then corrected himself and said "I am an addict". He had worked 20 years for the government as a pharmacist. He became addicted to pain pills, and started to falsify paperwork to feed his habit. Of course, he was caught and was put on probation. He lost his job in August. While on probation, he continued to use, was drunk in a bar, fell and lost a tooth. He violated his probation and went to prison.
I learned a lot from this man. .a very successful career, happily married in a very nice section of NJ, had everything going for him. Until addiction got him. It didnt care that he was never in trouble before. It didnt care that he was married. And it didnt care that it would turn his life upside down. He is right... Addiction Does Not Discriminate.. and it never will! God bless all of us trying to fight this demon.