Great benefits in helping addicts

I was sad to read the Friday letter regarding weak-minded fools, put drugs up their noses, veins or lungs for the purpose of getting high (I am paraphrasing).

There are a tremendous number of law-abiding citizens who do just this not to get high, but who have a medical condition or quick addictive personality to any substance. One drug that the letter writer left out is alcohol, the biggest addiction drug so far.

I am one of these weak-minded fools who for some reason had my wife and friends reach down and offer their open hands and hearts to help me. This occurred in 1979, prior to treatment centers being “trendy.” I went to a center founded by Dr. James Milam, who was the pioneer in establishing that addiction was, in fact, a disease, not a simple choice.

Of course I agree that some people do not want help at all, but what about the ones who do, but are too ashamed or afraid to admit that they can no longer handle a part of their lives? They are in every walk of life, from presidents on down.

If some people did not have the compassion and care to help me, then our society would have lost out on a great physician, computer pioneer, and children’s teacher. These are the children that we raised, always speaking of the dangers of addiction.

Today, my humbleness knows no bounds, and my extremely deep thanks for family, friends and God shall never end.

As for “any better ideas?” I can suggest two. One, offer your hand, and help someone stand up and begin life anew. And two, every time you see someone under the influence of some substance, “remember that but for the grace of God, there we go!”

Roger Demers