<\/p>\n\n\n\n
WHAT DOES ADDICTION LOOK LIKE?? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n By Mary Marcuccio, Guest Columnist<\/em> St. Cloud in the News <\/strong> 9\/18\/2019 (article 1 of 2)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n INSANITY. <\/strong>Doing the same thing, expecting a different result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I believe addiction is the epitome of repetition. The very lived, breathed definition of insanity. A recent event in my life brought this point home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You know, they say that God works in mysterious ways. That is not true at all. I think He\u2019s very transparent. For those who are willing to hear the voice, it\u2019s very clear. I have what I call my God voice, I\u2019ve been hearing it most of my adult life. It\u2019s gotten stronger as I\u2019ve gotten older. I will pray, and then very clearly hear<\/strong> in my head to do\/not do something. I\u2019ve learned to listen<\/strong>. That\u2019s how this story starts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Driving home from work on August 30, late afternoon, I was praying for guidance about my son\u2019s situation. I wanted to go to the dollar store, pick up some things for the impending hurricane then hit the lakefront for my daily walk. The voice was so loud, go to the lakefront. <\/em>\u201cOk, Ok\u2026!\u201d Not only that, but I was instructed, as I call it, to walk at the first pier, which I rarely do. So, I parked and started my journey. As I was walking, I saw a couple that was clearly in distress. Years of personal and professional experience, I knew they were drug users. I said to myself, \u201cYou don\u2019t need this Mary, keep walking. You don\u2019t need anybody else\u2019s problems.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n She was sitting on the ground, crying, all alone. She couldn\u2019t have weighed more than 90lbs, size 2. No thought at all\u2026 I dropped to my knees, \u201cHey honey, what\u2019s going on? You\u2019re not ok.\u201d<\/em> As we talked, her boyfriend came back and I introduced myself. As expected, I confirmed active drug use, homeless, hungry, no insurance and estranged from family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I offered Nancy and Joe, whose names have been changed for privacy, the one thing I HAVE \u2013 treatment. They said YES! Perfect strangers, but I\u2019ve known these faces for almost 20 years. What is the expression \u2013 evil persists when good men do nothing. <\/em><\/strong>Doing nothing for me is almost never an option. So, we sat in my car and I made tons of calls to business associates saying you HAVE to find me two detox beds, scholarships. <\/em>For readers who don\u2019t know what that means\u2026 about $10,000 worth of coverage, for FREE! Waiting for RSVP\u2019s, I drove to a couple of stores and got some food for them. It was 7pm, time for me to head home\u2026still no resources for treatment. So, I was driving with this couple, praying silently, telling God \u2013 you brought us here, now fix it! <\/em>God is probably the only one who knows that my heart would never allow me to put these two broken people back on a lakeshore and just go home with a hurricane around the corner!<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, my decision was made, motel for the night and give God a chance to do His thing. First motel, full. Second motel, full. Still praying, I hear my God voice repeating the name of a specific motel nearby. Man proposes; God disposes<\/strong>. \u201cOK, OK\u2026!!\u201d Pull into that parking lot, who do I see \u2013 a business associate named Vance Johnson (any football fans here \u2013 yup! HIM). He\u2019s working with a local treatment facility, and I looked up and silently said to God \u2013 Wow, you got this! <\/em>I left Vance with the couple to talk; went inside, whipped out my credit card, booked a room for 1 night, with a prayer for treatment options for the morning. We all prayed, standing in that parking lot. They settled in; I went home praying, knowing we needed the big guns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At home, I texted the CEO of The Blackberry Center (I used to work with him), explained that ALL options were exhausted \u2013 John, you\u2019re the man for this job. <\/em>\u201cYes\u201d<\/em> was his response. MY ANGEL.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The next morning, I went to the motel and gathered the couple. As is ALWAYS expected with drug addiction, reason had departed, and the monster of addiction had returned. At one quick stop before getting to the facility, Nancy went completely sideways, not agreeing to go \u2013 yelling, hollering, arguing with Joe. I looked in his eyes, I saw the battle \u2013 GO? STAY? I said \u201cJoe, I need a decision. What\u2019s it gonna be?\u201d <\/em>With tears in his eyes, he said \u201cI can\u2019t leave her, I love her.\u201d <\/em>I wished him the best, left. It\u2019s my understanding that they are still homeless and drug involved in the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Who does that? Who says no to FREE safe housing, food, medications \u2013 a chance at life?<\/em><\/strong> The monster of addiction, that\u2019s who. New day. Same choices. Insanity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For those of us who are sober, with no drug history, it\u2019s almost impossible to understand the insanity of addiction. And we don\u2019t have to. These broken persons, we pray will change when they\u2019re done, ready to change. We can\u2019t fix them, but we sure can pray for them! Maybe one day Joe will call\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n Four angels were put in my path that Friday and Saturday. Angels come in all shapes and sizes<\/strong> \u2013 drug users, athletes, businessmen. *Halos Not Required*<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have an issue with substance abuse, or are the family member of a loved one abusing drugs\/alcohol, please contact me for support and treatment options, email: marysbottomline@gmail.com<\/p>\n\n\n\n …………………………………<\/p>\n\n\n\n VOICES AND CHOICES<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n By Mary Marcuccio, Guest Columnist<\/em> St. Cloud in the News<\/strong> 10\/16\/2019 (article 2 of 2)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n L<\/strong>ast month, I shared a story with readers about a close encounter with addiction and what that looked like. INSANITY<\/strong>. Repeating the same behaviors, expecting a different result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Story #2. For readers following this series, I shared in June that my son, Matt, was getting out of prison in Connecticut, expected to be late summer. Well, August 19 hit like a train. My ex-husband Pete, Matt\u2019s dad, picked him up outside the jail, they grabbed a bite to eat, and Matt started what Matt always does \u2013 trying to make the bad feelings go away. He got a bunch of medications from a hospital that afternoon and took them all. The rest of the week, more doctors, more meds and drinking. He\u2019s saying to me on the phone, \u201cI don\u2019t want this life anymore Mom\u201d<\/em> \u2013 as he\u2019s taking half bottle of pills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On August 25, I awoke to a text from Pete \u2013 Matt overdosed, I found him on the floor unresponsive; he\u2019s in the hospital. <\/em>We discovered that Matt had attempted suicide via heroin overdose \u2013 for the umpteenth time in his life. He was in the psych ward until August 30. Pete picked him up and brought him back to his house, despite my request that Pete require at least rehab. They\u2019ve been struggling since then. Pete is sad, worried, angry, forlorn \u2013 and Matt is \u201ctrying to be good Mom<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s what trying to be good <\/em>looks like to my addicted son.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 9\/4 \u2013 intentional suicidal overdose at a friend\u2019s house, friend hit him with Narcan; he lives<\/p>\n\n\n\n 9\/12 \u2013 intentional suicidal overdose behind a dumpster near a vacant building in Hartford, CT., friend with him freaks out and calls 911, police\/EMT\u2019s, Narcan, hospital; he lives<\/p>\n\n\n\n 9\/16 \u2013 accidental overdose on a side street in Hartford, found by passerby, calls 911, police\/EMT\u2019s, hospital; he lives<\/p>\n\n\n\n New days. Same choices. INSANITY.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Do you know that Matt was VERY angry when he woke up from overdose #1, #2, #3\u2026 He had called me from the hospital after OD #1 and, knowing that this had been a suicidal plan (been there, done this for years) my first words to him were \u201chey honey\u2026 so you woke up\u201d <\/em>to which he said quietly and with a mixture of sadness and anger in his voice, \u201cyea, I can\u2019t even do that right. I keep F****** waking up.\u201d <\/em>Overdose #4, according to Matt \u2013 \u201cMom, I wasn\u2019t trying to kill myself. I was just trying to get high. I didn\u2019t think I did that much.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019ve offered my son help; he still chooses not to take it. Recent phone call from Matt: \u201cIf I hear you say rehab 1 more time, I\u2019m hanging up, will never talk to you again.\u201d <\/em>He still hears the voice of addiction louder than any other. He has chosen not to hear his God voice\u2026 yet. I have a very dear friend, sober 33 years, who is prone to say that \u201cmy disease has one job \u2013 separate me from everyone and everything that could stop it.\u201d<\/em> At support group meetings, he shares with families of addicts that \u201cmy disease isn\u2019t trying to HURT you; it\u2019s trying to HELP me \u2013 forget, be numb, not feel\u2026\u201d <\/em>Instead of going into a psych hospital or rehab, Matt left his dad\u2019s house on 9\/24 headed to Massachusetts with a girl he met online a few days earlier! Matt has carried his addiction with him; his life partner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As I pointed out in the previous article, the couple I engaged with recently had two choices: Continue using drugs, being homeless, hungry, estranged from family; survive a hurricane outdoors OR Go to a FREE detox\/rehab, BE SAFE, get medication, eat well, clean clothes\/shower\u2026NEW CHANCE!<\/p>\n\n\n\n They chose the voice of addiction. The \u201cbad\u201d one, as it were. It was louder, stronger, more powerful than their God voice. They made a choice of which to hear, and addiction continues. For addicts, life is to be endured while trying to get high\/drunk. It doesn\u2019t make sense to those of us who are sober with no drug history. As I\u2019ve said before, we don\u2019t have to understand; we have to LOVE. We don\u2019t have to agree, we don\u2019t have to support their poor choices, we SHOULDN\u2019T enable. But we must LOVE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I was working at the treatment center in Orlando on Monday 9\/23, where I do family coaching. Once a month I share my story with the clients themselves; it\u2019s usually a very engaging and emotional experience for all of us. A month ago, I told my story to a group of clients; have been getting much positive feedback from them since. On that Monday, a client \u2013 Suzie, a beautiful, young woman in her mid-20\u2019s, took me aside and told me that, that very morning she had \u201chad it\/gotta leave,\u201d<\/em> was planning to leave rehab and go use (heroin). She said that she heard my voice in her head, having recently related to my story\u2026that she remembered the pain I shared\u2026that my words sounded like her mom\u2019s. She went to her therapist, they called her mom, together they discussed leaving\/staying. She decided to stay! She told me this because she wanted me to know that as hard as it is for me to talk about Matt, my sharing gave her a new voice to hear!<\/p>\n\n\n\n In wisdom that has come with age, I understand that we ALWAYS have choices \u2013 I refer to them as voices; the good and the bad, light and dark. Our addicts hear voices \u2013 the call of addiction vs. their God voice. It\u2019s like two warring creatures; the side that wins is the one that gets fed the most. Our prayer should be, as with Suzie, that the day comes when our addict\u2019s God voice is stronger than that of addiction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have an issue with substance abuse, or are the family member of a loved one abusing drugs\/alcohol, please contact me for support and treatment options, email: marysbottomline@gmail.com <\/p>\n\n\n\n Recovery Corner: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Red Letter Days <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n By Guest Columnist, Mary Marcuccio<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n This article was originally written and featured on scinthenews.com<\/a><\/em> June, 2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n This time last year, I had shared with readers some stories about my son Matt, his history of addiction and the pain that a family suffers because of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019m writing this on Sunday morning, May 26, facing Tuesday, May 28 \u2013 my son\u2019s 30th birthday. He is still in prison in Connecticut, finishing a sentence from his last set of arrests\/convictions. Tuesday hangs like a heavy weight on my heart. Another life marker spent in prison\/rehab\/homeless \u2013 it\u2019s consistently been one or the other for the better part of the last 15 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Life markers hurt. What other people revel in \u2013 birthdays, anniversaries, holidays \u2013 I dread. I wake up on those days, having years of experience designing busyness to keep my mind and heart occupied. My go-to is major housecleaning. And God bless work\u2026it allows me the most effective escape. Thankfully I have an insanely busy workday on Tuesday; funny how all the important meetings this coming week HAPPEN to be set for the 28th. I truly didn\u2019t do it consciously. Freud would be proud of my deliberate accidental sub-conscious planning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019m not alone in my pain. I have so many people in my life \u2013 clients, friends, business associates \u2013 who live my \u201cno markers\u201d life. We have learned to avoid these special days in order to survive. Because we are pretending to live, without our hearts, without the person \u2013 that wonderful\/terrible broken person \u2013 who has been kidnapped by addiction and held\u2026 in the abyss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We started this series last year, \u201cRECOVERY CORNER.\u201d In one of those articles, I referred to the TAKING that addiction profusely provides. Seemingly unending. Let\u2019s add this particular pain to the list\u2013 the families of addicts have 365 equal days, \u201cblack letter days\u201d let\u2019s call them. We\u2019ll let the rest of the world remember, recall and commemorate their \u201cred letter days.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Do I dream!? Yes, I do\u2026that someday, some little square on my desk calendar (yes, I keep a REAL paper calendar) will be red lettered\/highlighted\/lots of stars ***** \u2013 Matt is sober, safe, mentally sound.<\/strong> That\u2019s about as beautiful as an example of hope that I could ever give. HOPE<\/strong> \u2013 \u201cA feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Matt gets out of prison likely the end of July. Beginning of the end\u2026 or a new beginning\u2026 time will tell. I will continue to love my son and hate addiction, both every day. And I will continue to hope, AND PRAY, that he will find his way out\u2026of the abyss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I woke this morning with this article writing itself in my head, before I even left the bed. By the time you see this, Tuesday will be done and gone. I will update readers very soon about how my Tuesday went. And what does the end of July look like\u2026.!!?? I am so very thankful for these opportunities to share with readers, many of whom are suffering a loved one\u2019s addiction as well. These writings are very cathartic for me, and my HOPE is that by sharing, I can touch another who needs to be touched \u2013 to know that YOU ARE NOT ALONE. \u201cLET YOUR FAITH BE BIGGER THAN YOUR FEAR\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Recovery Corner: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n What IS substance abuse?<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n By Guest Columnist, Mary Marcuccio<\/em> St. Cloud in the News<\/strong> 5\/2\/18 (article 1 of 2)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n T<\/strong>he official definition: \u201coverindulgence in or dependence on an addictive substance, especially alcohol or drugs.\u201d OK\u2026 but WHO becomes a drug addict? An alcoholic? \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a previous article I shared that my son\u2019s been using drugs since adolescence. He found heroin at 15\u2026 And our lives have never been the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n My son gave me some of my greatest understandings of addiction back when he was 17. He\u2019d been arrested, once again, but in jail for the first time. A juvenile jail. Make no mistake\u2026it FEELS and LOOKS the same as \u201cgrown up\u201d jail \u2013 brick building, guards at the door with guns, big gray sliding prison doors that clang behind you, visitation room with me on one side of scratched, filthy plexiglass, him on the other. I was doing my mother\u2019s heart of crying and drama, \u201cWhy are you doing this? You\u2019re destroying your life\u2026our life\u2026your future\u2026 Please why can\u2019t you just stop using drugs!!??\u201d At 17 years old, in a gray jumpsuit, talking through the glass on a jail phone, he said \u201cMom, you just don\u2019t understand. Heroin is like nothing I\u2019ve ever done. When I\u2019m high, everything is ok. I don\u2019t worry, I don\u2019t have any pain. NONE OF THE BAD GETS IN. I feel\u2026normal. IF I COULD STAY HIGH, I\u2018D STAY IN HERE FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.\u201d Can you imagine\u202617 years old\u2026willing to stay in prison FOREVER if he could have heroin?? No life. No friends. No girlfriend. No kids. No home. No job. No\u2026NOTHING. And he meant it. Heroin has been his life-partner, so to speak, ever since. 12 years. I call heroin addiction the Living Hell, <\/em>because he can\u2019t LIVE with it, and he WON\u2019T live without it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I share this story as a cautionary tale. To the folks reading that think \u201cNOT MY KID\u201d \u2014 he\/she could never\u2026would never\u2026 Drugs are an equal opportunity kidnapper. They are color-blind. Not the least bit prejudice. With one goal\u2026 CAPTURE. Nobody wakes up one day at 14\u202618\u202625\u2026and says \u201cI\u2019m gonna be a drug addict, have no life, destroy my family, give mom a heart attack, dad a stroke, live in prison, get HIV<\/em>\u2026\u201d Once captured, the human being and their world suffer greatly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To answer the question \u2013 Who becomes a drug addict? An<\/em> alcoholic<\/em>?\u2026 ANYONE. Because substance abuse isn\u2019t a mark of character, it\u2019s not about good people or bad people. Our goal, as parents\/ families\/ community\/ professionals \u2013 is to PREVENT THE CAPTURE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Get educated about substance abuse\/learn what to watch for:<\/strong> What are signs of pot, coke, pills, meth, heroin, etc.???<\/p>\n\n\n\n Be proactive in your own home\/family:<\/strong> Be the PARENT, not the FRIEND\u2026 SET rules\/boundaries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you have concerns, GET HELP:<\/strong> Doing nothing \/Denial is our greatest enemy in this fight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The sooner we become aware and educated, the greater chance of aiding a loved one to get help.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some more RED FLAGS for opiate addiction<\/strong> \u2013 things to watch for, be it prescription pain pills<\/strong> or heroin<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n -Spoons will be missing, unexplained from the kitchen, or appear blackened\/burnt on the underside<\/p>\n\n\n\n -User will have \u201ccotton mouth\u201d \u2013 speech is impaired and\/or slurred, user constantly licks his lips and lips appear dysfunctional<\/p>\n\n\n\n -Opiate users will often wear sunglasses inappropriately \u2013 inside, nighttime, days which obviously do not warrant their wearing<\/p>\n\n\n\n -Appetite decreases drastically; opiate use becomes all consuming; the user progressively loses all interest in eating and drinking; YET, user may often have water on hand\u2013 multiple bottles and glasses, often partially full<\/p>\n\n\n\n -Weight will usually decrease immediately and drastically shortly after the onset of opiate use<\/p>\n\n\n\n -Watch for evidence of constipation (opiate side effect) \u2013 laxatives, enemas, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For assistance or resources – Mary Marcuccio, marysbottomline@gmail.com <\/p>\n\n\n\n …………………………..<\/p>\n\n\n\n Recovery Corner: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Unseen Cost of Addiction<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n By Guest Columnist, Mary Marcuccio<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n This article was originally written and featured on scinthenews.com<\/a><\/em> 6\/21\/18 (article 2 of 2)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n L<\/strong>ast month I shared with readers a story about my 17-year-old son in prison back in 2006. I cried the entire time writing that. The reliving brought back all the pain, ripped off the band-aid, so to speak, that I firmly place on all memories of my past. Here we are again\u2026 computer and Kleenex. Back in 2006, I had some hope, although guarded, that in time my son would find his way out of drugs. Move forward 12 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I just got back from a trip to CT, for a funeral and to visit my son in prison. Yet again. He\u2019s doing 9-18 months on old drug charges. He turned 29 two weeks ago. Drug abusing history of 17 years, 14 of those as a junkie (to those who may want to be offended\u2026 please don\u2019t\u2026 iv heroin users ARE junkies<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n I HATE TO FLY. It\u2019s my kryptonite. I am a strong, capable, competent, woman who can manage crises like most people eat dinner. Put me on an airplane\u2026and I\u2019ve got a white-knuckle hold on the seat in front, chanting prayers to any God that will listen, and swearing on Grandma\u2019s grave I will NEVER do this again! Did the plane\u2026to get to CT\u2026to visit my son in prison\u2026suffering a greatest fear \u2013 FLIGHT \u2013 for the sole purpose of delivering the most devastating news my son will likely ever hear. My mom died recently, his grandmother, HIS PERSON. The one human being on this planet that he loved, as much as he can understand love. I needed to face<\/em> him to tell him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With my heart dragging on the ground, I entered the prison visitation room, once again me on one side of dirty scratched plexi-glass, Matt on the other. I made as much small talk as possible for 20 minutes, then took a breath \u2013 \u201cMatt, honey, I have very sad news to share with you\u2026\u201d His tears were instantaneous, before I said the words\u2026he knew. The next 40 minutes were as bad as I expected. I dropped the Hiroshima bomb. No survivors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Why am I sharing this with you??? Because my son, Louise\u2019s grandson, SHOULD have been at her funeral, memorial service, family dinner \u2026 mourning\/grieving\/remembering\/celebrating her life. NOT in a beige jumpsuit, handcuffs and leg irons, 9\u00d79 concrete cell, with no ability to grieve or mourn. For those readers who aren\u2019t aware, CRYING IN PRISON <\/strong>ISN\u2019T COOL<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n My heartache these past days has been almost too much to bear. To have to drop this bomb, and then watch the devastation it caused my son\u2026 the sober human\u2026 NOT the monster addict. I have now come to see yet another something<\/em> that addiction steals \u2014 even the privilege to grieve. To mourn. THE TAKING NEVER ENDS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the momentous words of the beloved and departed actor, Carroll O\u2019Connor (Archie Bunker<\/em>) \u2013 \u201cGET BETWEEN YOUR KIDS AND DRUGS, ANY WAY YOU CAN\u201d.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Below is a poem about drugs, by an anonymous author, very widely used by substance abuse professionals. I think this is the time for me to share it with you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n DRUGS<\/strong> – A POEM<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I destroy homes, tear families apart, take your children, and that\u2019s just the start. I\u2019m more costly than diamonds, more costly than gold; the sorrow I bring is a sight to behold. And if you need me, remember I\u2019m easily found; I live all around you, in schools and in town. I live with the rich, I live with the poor; I live down the street, and maybe next door. My power is awesome; try me \u2014 you\u2019ll see; but if you do, you may never break free. Just try me once and I might let you go, but try me twice, and I\u2019ll own your soul. When I possess you, you\u2019ll steal and you\u2019ll lie. You do what you have to just to get high. The crimes you\u2019ll commit, for my narcotic charms, will be worth the pleasure you\u2019ll feel in your arms. You\u2019ll lie to your mother, you\u2019ll steal from your dad; When you see their tears, you should feel sad. But you\u2019ll forget your morals and how you were raised, I\u2019ll be your conscience, I\u2019ll teach you my ways. I take kids from parents, and parents from kids; I turn people from God, and separate from friends. I\u2019ll take everything from you, your looks and your pride; I\u2019ll be with you always, right by your side. You\u2019ll give up everything, your family, your home, your friends, your money, then you\u2019ll be alone. I\u2019ll take and take, till you have nothing more to give; When I\u2019m finished with you, you\u2019ll be lucky to live. If you try me\u2013 be warned\u2013 this is no game; If given the chance, I\u2019ll drive you insane. I\u2019ll ravish your body, I\u2019ll control your mind; I\u2019ll own you completely, your soul will be mine. The nightmares I\u2019ll give you while lying in bed, the voices you\u2019ll hear from inside your head; the sweats, the shakes, the visions you\u2019ll see\u2013 I want you to know, these are all gifts from me. But then it\u2019s too late, and you\u2019ll know in your heart, that you are mine, and we shall not part. You\u2019ll regret that you tried me, they always do, but you came to me, not I to you. You knew this would happen; Many times, you were told\u2013 but you challenged my power, and chose to be bold. You could have said no, and just walked away; If you could live that day over, now what would you say? I\u2019ll be your master; you will be my slave; I\u2019ll even go with you, when you go to your grave. Now that you have met me, what will you do? Will you try me or not? It\u2019s all up to you. I can bring you more misery than words can tell; Come take my hand, let me lead you to hell\u2026\u2026<\/strong> (Author Unknown<\/em>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n For assistance or resources – Mary Marcuccio, marysbottomline@gmail.com<\/p>\n\n\n\n RECOVERY CORNER <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n By Guest Columnist, Mary Marcuccio<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Below is a portion of an article, originally written and featured on scinthenews.com<\/a><\/em> 4\/5\/18<\/p>\n\n\n\n W<\/strong>hy should you read this article?? Because chances are that you, the reader, have someone in your life that is using drugs or alcohol and you don\u2019t know it\u2026. YET. And if you DO know it\u2026. what to do??<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n My name is Mary Marcuccio, I live in St. Cloud. I am a substance abuse professional. And I AM YOU. I was the mom who had a 12-year-old son smoking pot who became the 14-year-old snorting pain pills. We dove in head first, trying to stop him\u2026change his path. Despite our exhaustive efforts, he graduated to shooting heroin at 15. This discovery collapsed me onto the kitchen floor, in a full-blown asthma event. Once the tears stopped and I could breathe, I decided to \u2026. ATTACK. \u201cTHIS STOPS RIGHT NOW!!\u201d \u2026 I screamed at no one in the room. In all my infinite ignorance I actually believed I had that power. 13 years later, my son is still a raging drug addict and alcoholic, despite every effort as parents to interfere\/intervene\/fix\/change. We\u2019ve suffered almost every possible conceivable hurt\/pain\/trauma\/tragedy that CAN be suffered by the family of the addict. Ask me about my son\u2019s recent capture and torture at the hands of unscrupulous bondsmen\u2026 and I will fall into a flow of tears. Professional or not, the heartache lives<\/em>. I\u2019ve learned to manage<\/em> it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I have been sleeping much better for the past few weeks because my son is back in prison AND I KNOW HE\u2019S SAFE. Safe is relative, to be sure; but for my family, RIGHT NOW, prison will keep him alive and with God\u2019s good grace and my prayers, maybe THIS TIME he will \u2026 WANT to change, BE willing to change, HAVE ENOUGH PAIN to change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I hope to be sharing more of my family\u2019s story in future articles. For now, let\u2019s discuss how my average day goes<\/em>? I am the mother of a drug addict\/alcoholic while being a professional with a job and many responsibilities \u2026 I get up (some days are harder than others), shower, dress, do my hair, put on makeup, pack my bag and spend my day helping other ME\u2019s to find their BOTTOM LINE \u2026 their \u201chow to be ok with what I\u2019m NOT ok with.\u201d Who better than me<\/em> to guide another mother, father, wife, uncle, best friend \u2026 how to do US?! THE SECRET: IT\u2019S ALL ABOUT PERSPECTIVE. COPING SKILLS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Essentially, I address 2 readers: You\u2019re the wife of the alcoholic, the grandfather of the junkie \u2013 and you\u2019re so filled with hurt, pain and anger that you just cry because you\u2019re so lost<\/strong>. You haven\u2019t reached out for help because you haven\u2019t got the strength. Or<\/strong> you\u2019re the reader who THINKS you don\u2019t have any drug problems in YOUR family \u2013 so why do you need to read this?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Reader #1: THE ME\u2019S: <\/strong>You spend years \u2026 decades \u2026 Enabling. Crying. Begging. Pleading. Truly believe that you\u2019re all alone \u2026 PLEASE STOP. REACH OUT.<\/p>\n\n\n\n *I host a FREE educational forum weekly, for family support, at a local substance abuse treatment center; COME! <\/strong>(please call me for details)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n *You can call\/email me for support and resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n *My website has a list of resources for treatment for your addict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n *Please see the extensive resource list at the end of this article, for YOU. PLEASE REACH OUT \u2026 YOU ARE NOT ALONE.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Reader #2: \u201cTHE NOT \u2013 ME\u2019s\u201d: <\/strong>That\u2019s what I call people who don\u2019t have or THINK they don\u2019t have \u201cdrug issues\u201d \u2026 and here\u2019s what you don\u2019t know and need to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Capt. Carlos Espinosa, Orange County Sheriff\u2019s Office, shared the following: \u201cEveryone reading this should be concerned with the drug crisis even if it\u2019s not in their own family. Every citizen\u2019s quality of life is affected by drugs. For example, drug addiction and mental illness contribute significantly to homelessness. Crime \u2013 prostitution, auto burglaries for example \u2013 are largely driven by drug addiction. The user doesn\u2019t want to hurt you; their intent is to get money for drugs. And public restrooms\u2013 at the park, the beach, etc. \u2013 are often a haven of drug activity. This is a huge safety issue for you and your family. It benefits \u2018us\u2019 to help \u2018them\u2019 because we\u2019re all connected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe reader should be very aware that central Florida is having a huge drug crisis, most significantly heroin. In Orange County this year, the number of drug overdoses increased significantly from last year, and the rate of death from overdoses almost doubled, as compared with last year. Drug dealers are adding fentanyl, a very powerful opiate, to MANY DRUGS, including cocaine and marijuana. Most of our losses can be attributed to fentanyl laced products.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n As the mother of a heroin user, I have more experience and knowledge of opiate addiction that I could have ever wanted. I can say with utter confidence that drugs are not prejudice \u2026 they don\u2019t care where you live, how much money you have, what kind of a student you are, your race\/color\/creed. DRUGS ARE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY KIDNAPPER.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I want you to be aware of some things to watch for\/ RED FLAGS for opiate abuse within your home and family:<\/p>\n\n\n\n While the opiate user is high<\/em>: Nodding off, lethargic, sleeping A LOT, Pinpoint pupils, non-responsive to light changes and \u201cItchy-scratchy\u201d skin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n *Please go to my website for a comprehensive list of warning signs\/Red Flags; recent media items that are educational and informational.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Please watch this paper for the ongoing series on drug education, awareness, and resources \u2013 RECOVERY CORNER.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n THANK YOU! MARY MARCUCCIO, FAMILY CONSULTANT marysbottomline@gmail.com <\/p>\n\n\n\n NAR-ANON<\/strong> (Parent\/Family Support) www.Nar-anon.org<\/a> 888-947-8885<\/p>\n\n\n\n AL-ANON<\/strong> (Parent\/Family Support) www.Al-anon.org <\/a> 888-425-2666<\/p>\n\n\n\n FAMILIES ANONYMOUS<\/strong> (Parent\/Family Support) www.familiesanonymous.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Parent\/Family Support Groups \u2013 in U.S. <\/strong>www.supportgroupproject.<\/a>org<\/p>\n\n\n\nRECOVERY CORNER:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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