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I'm grieving. One of our local 15 year old female died of apparent alcohol poisoning. I wanna scream and throw a tantrum!!!! I'll end up outside doing a chant to HP. HP knows. HP hears me. I don't need further proof. This is a grievable offense and so that is what happens with me. I've worked with the youngens to support their stuff where I hardly ever had it in the past that I can remember. For just one of them to overdoes and slip into a alcohol arrest squeezes my spirit. I'm pissed and my letter to the editor (there will more) was because a proposal for alcohol controls sits on someones in/out/where ever basket unquestioned beyond can we afford this? Sh*t!! what is the value of a childs life? Powerless, especially after the fact; I hate it...just hate it.
Jerry, I hear your anger and frustration. This disease is the worse thing i have ever ecountered in my life. I also have problems accepting gods will sometimes although I am now learning to trust it. As for that sitting on the desk the person dealing with it has most probably never lived with alcoholisme!!! you get your serenity back soon
I am with you all the way Jerry...I will be there beside you chanting and raving and begging and pleading.
Such a waste of life.
However, I do not see this as God's will. We need to recognise the choices in this situation. We are human and we ignore God, and we go our own way. This is the result of a choice that was a bad one and the choice in the first place was the mistake. In this case the choice was to drink and then the drink took hold with a vice like grip and the 'ism was born.
Education, recognition, compassion, caring, support and help together with concerned and well informed warning and promotion is what counts and needs to be wholeheartedly pushed for and fought for.
The dangers are lurking, the ignornance and excitment born out of daring and rebellion and striking out on their own, trials, tests and the stretching to the very limits of any authority or caution leads youngens on and the potential damage and terrible consecquences are ignored. This is when we see the tragedy.
Praying for you Jerry and for the youngens at risk.
Mahalo Suzannah
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Out of the ruin of my past I have found the fortress of myself and I know how to defend it.
Strive for WISDOM; Seek SERENITY; NEVER compromise your INTEGRITY.
(((Jerry F))) this is a terrible, waste of life. I hate to see when a young one dies an alcohol related death, whether that be through alcohol poisoning or driving while under the influence, or any number of insane reasons that young people drink till they are beyond the point of no return.
Death from alcoholism at any age is a severe tragedy, as recently a drinking buddy of my husband died of liver failure, due to drinking. He was told a year ago that if he didn't stop drinking that he would die. He stopped for awhile, under his own will power, but as we know we can't do this alone, so he succumed to the drink again, and now he is dead. Such a waste of life. He was 58.
Mourning with all those who have lost a loved one to alcohol.
Overcome
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I can Overcome all things through my HP who strengthens me.
My precious friend, there are no words to comfort you at this time. Know you did all you could do. Know too your help was profound and will be comforting to the others as they face to brutality of such a tragic example. I've come to believe this single disease is as blatent as the fight between good and evil. My heart goes out to you during this time of loss and mourning.
I understand your anger, frustraition, and feeling of despair. The disease can never be stopped, but why can the powers that be see what we already know. They can pass laws to curb teens using cell phones while driving, yet close their eyes to an even greater problem.
MADD, Mothers Against Drunk Driving was started by one mother who had loss a child because of this disease. I hope HP will find the one person needed to start a rebellion for this worthy cause. From the tone of your post HP might already have someone in mind. I pray the right people will not only see, but listen and take action. It is so simple, how could they possibly argue that it is not the next right thing for them to do. !!! If they did others would surely follow.
HUGS, RLC
-- Edited by RLC on Saturday 1st of August 2009 03:23:51 PM
The term "war on drugs" was first used by Richard Nixon in 1969. We see how well and fast THAT has worked out.
Why marijuana was included (which can be used to make many earth freindly products) in the war on drugs and alcohol was not included is a joke. NO ONE has ever smoked so much pot that they have died. I'm not promoting pot, just saying the obvious differences are ludicrous when it comes to damage done.
We NEED to be angry. Otherwise nothing will change.
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If we think that miracles are normal, we will expect them. And expecting a miracle is the surest way to get one.
I too share in your anger and frustration. What will it take to get it through people's heads that this drug can and does kill?!! This is why I don't get it when parents buy alcohol for their underage children! I'll be saying that chant with you. My prayers are with her family. Much love and blessings to you and your family.
Live strong, Karilynn & Pipers Kitty
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It's your life. Take no prisoners. You will have it your way.
Hi Jerry....I hear your anger and frustration....which I share.
Some kids (and adults), sadly, are of the opinion they are invincible..... that they can drink to excess take drugs have casual sex etc etc and there will be no serious consequences ....its all a big laugh.
For this 15yr old and her loved ones its a cruel tragedy.
Here in Scotland, in the cities and the villages it has, for far too long, been accepted as ok to be blind drunk and incapable....its not just in the deprived areas, its everywhere....people are dying from alcoholism younger and younger.
Whats the answer?....I wish I knew.One maybe is to have more good people like yourself, who have recovery, at the forefront of this battle.
( I have to agree with RLC....quote...From the tone of your post HP might already have someone in mind)
Peace to you Jerry, and to all who are hurting from this disease.
Another victim.... sorry to hear about that Jerry, and her loss has obviously affected you in a very personal way....
I don't know what the answer is.... education, I suppose..... in B.C. , they have a program here called "DARE", where they get to every grade six student, show them a video called "Scared Straight", where it shows the lives of 3 or 4 real life addicts, how pathetic it all is.... Then after the movie, the police officers speak with the kids openly and honestly about choices, and the devastation of alcohol & drugs.... At the end of the session, the kids (if they choose), write out a commitment with respect to how they are going to handle themselves (with respect to drugs & alcohol), and get a certificate to show they have gone through this program....
It's not perfect, but I think it's a great start....
Tom
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"He is either gonna drink, or he won't.... what are YOU gonna do?"
"What you think of me is none of my business"
"If you knew the answer to what you are worrying about, would it REALLY change anything?"
I don't know what the answer is.... education, I suppose..... in B.C. , they have a program here called "DARE", where they get to every grade six student, show them a video called "Scared Straight", where it shows the lives of 3 or 4 real life addicts, how pathetic it all is....
I have to agree with this. Some people are never going to believe their ears no matter how sincere the education is, but many people will. I believe I became an alcoholic because it's in my blood, and I do have an addictive personality. The reason I did NOT become a drug addict I do attribute largely to the education I received in high school AND Sunday school believe it or not, about drugs. This was in the early 1970s, before DARE or anything like that. Films are one thing, but in my senior health class, our teacher brought in some guests - former students of his, addicts who had gotten clean and who told their stories of addiction to heroin and other drugs. I appreciated the honesty and what today's kids would call "street cred" of these people. I don't know if they got through to everyone, but they got through to me. Perhaps because at that time I had not yet tried any "drug of abuse" or even alcohol other than the sip of communion wine.
Once I felt the effects of alcohol for the first time, it was somewhat destiny - there was nothing going to stop me, including the fact that three years earlier we had buried my father after he drank himself to death. In fact, I had this overwhelming thought, "Wow! I love this alcohol.... I have to control it so I don't end up like my dad... or have to give it up!" But of course the day did come when I had to choose which it was going to be, because continuing to "control it" wasn't working anymore.
By the time I was introduced to other drugs, marijuana in particular, I was already deep in my love affair with alcohol. I didn't much like pot, it made my throat burn and made me paranoid, both of which made me want to drink more beer. Once my pot smoking friends had drifted away, I just stuck with alcohol.
At any rate, I think most would agree that prohibition has been a failure. Simply making something illegal has little effect on whether people do it or not. To someone not an addict, that doesn't seem like a logical statement, but if you know alcoholism as we do, you know that the best way to get an alcoholic to do something is to tell him that he can't.
I'll be saying that chant with you. My prayers are with her family. 
Much love and blessings to you and your family.