Once Upon An Addiction...Yikes, Time for Everybuddy to Tune Into this Lil' EPIDEMIC!

 Noble Horizons in Salisbury CT is joining the ranks of concerned citizens, groups. law enforcement and addiction recovery advocates with  a free workshop in May 2016. This post is encouraging all to learn more about opiate addiction or indicators of a substance abuse problems. Thanks for taking time to realize what a widespread  challenge this is for All of US and many others around the world. State by state, town by town and family by family, and person by person, the impacts are devastating so we need a Community Response with Support for All struggling to comprehend key points, stay safe and have assessments for how all people involved with a  'qualifying person' facing the  addiction or other malady directly is coping. Don't wait til it's too late. Keep websites such as  www.211.org (or Dial 211 for help in any state if it's not an emergency or if  you're not sure or shy. Or ask a friend to call, but do reach out for Help TODAY.  Take time to know What Number to Call for Any Concern such as in NYC call 311 instead of 211.

When a program is being presented, ideally any parts that can be shared online (handouts/power point, audio recording,edited to protect privacy etc) would be helpful. Or other online resources given such as I list in some posts, but might do more of with some key topics. Librarians can be of asistance using a computer if one is not sure how to do so, and again, ask a friend if you do not have access or time to look up important numbers for your own support as well as for the people you are trying to help. On a wider scale, take a few minutes to Relax and Think about the Big Picture of Life and our Human Condition. You won't regret learning insights from the following folks who have special gifts and years of experience in law and intuition or psychic/ medium skills.

Overall, these folks say they believe in a loving, kind force (yes, God or thereabouts) with a conviction that no one suffers after death but they do continue to exist, so not to look to suicide as an end or feel despair that a soul is still in major struggle mode. Consider the likelihood that the soul with a personality even continues on in new realms and way we really tend to not understand and opt toward not considering or remembering to tune in during the day or during our dreams or catch other glimpses or heed messages, some life-saving which Mark Anthony relays for some folks he's known.

Learning lessons is not something for a few people but may actually be why we incarnate (take on human form, yes as infants but no less as great souls, so even our view of human development could use and upgrade to include the power of all of us being amazing human souls from the get go. Likely our nutrition, care and education of young families and children could be enhanced to keep all aspects in mind of the balance and growth of a person from younger to older ages such as Rudolf Steiner recommends.

More is not always better, and stress in school, in sports, at work and in relationships can contribute to people turning to a way to zone out or have a quick fix to keep up (even coffee, cigarettes and pot used to excess or even at all not likely good or necessary but can be viewed as warning sighs as can a lack of sleep, isolating or falling behind in school and work, driving or acting recklessly, etc).

Treat the cause not just the symptom with a therapeutic team approach and learn the laws early on for one's own sanity and safety. Younger people seem more prone to party and not tally up the consequences, and by one's 30s, problems may be ingrained or if one has not gone down that path, likely they won't start, even after 25. Life gets easier and nicer with a sense of friends or connections helping one work through 'adult responsibilites' which nowadays do not have to be on one's shoulders without help.

Living in group situations, camping, budgeting, living simply are all more common notions. With less stress comes more sanity, sleep, better eating and habits and much more, so look at Your Money or Your Life and find people to support you as a team player and vice versa. Living with a goal in mind over a few years can help one's journey, even six months or so at a time. Take breaks mentally if not actual time away or find books or shows to get new input into one's mind (of a decent nature). Garbage in, garbage out..so go for the good stuff in, and good stuff out approach to life in thought, word and deed. 

The books by Mark Anthony, Evidence of Eternity and Never Letting Go speak to the pattern of people sometimes developing addictions in response to unresolved grief. 
Ideally these books and one by Bill Phillips Expect the Unexpected--at theSharon Library (and others along these lines, even cards from Patti Sinclair with healing messages) could be a helpful resource. 
At the FV Library, There's Living Into Dying and likely other helpful resources. I have studied many modalities such at The Reconnection.com (see on youtube and again the book by Eric Pearl who was given this info and technique in 1993.)

Overall, our medical systems are very limited in How they Address Any Issue, from pregnancy and childbirth to infant and childcare (which again, isn't really in their teachings unless regarding illness). Rudolf Steiner offers many insights which are on www.steiner.org, or Edgar Cayce at www.are.org or com. 

The point is everything could be viewed from a Spiritual perspective and then on an emotional level, then with how that presents in terms of feelings and thoughts then behaviors and actions, relationships and so on.
When society 'pays attention' someone usually has to be saying they will hurt themselves or another or have done so (committed a crime, even if belligerent or disturbing the peace Or breaking a Court Order such as no contact or part of a custody plan.)

As of recently someone acting in a disturbed manner could be directed to a hospital or such for a day of observation by the police (but I don't know if Troop B really has a plan to do this. Likely more training for mental health and addiction is needed for police, doctors, teachers, public and private citizens to understand the complexity and reality many people have to cope with such as through www.nami.org though they are based on medical info and social services, not so much spiritual insights.

Still, pulling all this together is what more folks and groups could do. Secondary victims or people affected by addiction should also be identified and educated for self-care and ideas for Living in a Personal and Practical Safe Social Space during the Day and ideally at Night as well, even if that mean living apart safely with one's children from the person having the addiction issues.

Likely some can predict that I will mention domestic abuse as the priority to screen for whenever there is conflict 'in a relationship or group or people'.

A tyrannical or psychotic mindset is not caused by alcohol or drug use but it can be heightened. If a victim of abuse is using drugs to numb or self-protect that is a bit different and again, the importance of keeping a mother safe and together with her children as the overarching imperative strategy to safeguard against abuse needs to be prioritized.

See www.endingviolence.com and www.barrygoldstein.net. While people don't like to make drug addiction more complicated than it is', why wouldn't people want to prevent if from taking more people down than necessary? 

Services are needed that can commit to the longterm help for victims and safety of abuse and of those living with addicts or drug users (yes, including alcoholics who too often drive under the influence, drain funds, create havoc and are erratic which impacts kids as well as adult victims).

Basic meditation to calm one's mind with focus on breathing or repeating word could be practiced for 5 minutes voluntarily before and after such programs or a calm or brisk walk around the parking lot, even on an individual or buddy system basis to remind each other of the healing benefits of Destressing. Stress is linked to many health problems such as overeating, diabetes, and high blood pressure, anxiety and so on. 

There is a chemical basis for the feeling of stress (too much cortisol when in a longterm type of conflict or even many short stressor types). Lots of info online. But it's important to consider that 'many types of depression or conflct' affect everyone in a profound way who is living with a person with problems along those lines or drug use, having high care needs etc. Self -care with support and regular breaks, good sleep. safety on all levels is a necessity not a luxury. Thanks for considering and sharing as is possible.