i have been following the prometa stories with keen interest. it's such a great promise- medication that will quell the desire to re-use meth and cut back on cravings. a person takes it long enough to get through their first months of staying away from crystal and they are able to withstand the urges and come out on the other side clean.
if you read the literature and the studies that are put out by the developers, you get a sense that finally this meth thing might have an end in sight. the numbers are amazing and the legislation all looks good for a new entry in the fight against meth.
i have been following a series of posts at lifelube, though and have come to believe not much of what i was hearing from the drug manufacturer. the politics that are littered throughout the undergarments of this story are all too familiar. please read matt simonette's coverage of a public inquiry.
as is usually the case, there are some financial irregularities mixed well in the story too:
[See past posts on Prometa. LifeLube is concerned about this company- Hythiam - pushing a very expensive treatment protocol for alcohol and crystal meth addiction - with no scientific proof other than small, open-label studies. Read this item from The News Tribune today in Tacoma, WA and you can see why there is cause for for this concern across the country...]
it is advisable to beware of quick fixes, of potions and pills, as they might have an effect, but doubtfully hold the promise of a cure. what ails our tribe is more likely a spiritual malady that can be overcome with forgiveness, love, and understanding. oh and hard work. i mean, a person just might not be able to stop a vile nasty habit by just taking a pill and talking to an expensive psychiatrist. they might benefit more from talking with someone else who has taken the same journey and learning how to develop new habits, new beliefs, and new dreams and giving of themselves to their community without an expectation of reward or receipt. how is this too high a price to pay for mental and physical well being and peace of mind???
when the rain washes you clean, you will know....
Written by stevie nicks.
Now here you go again
You say you want your freedom
Well who am I to keep you down
Its only right that you should
Play the way you feel it
But listen carefully to the sound
Of your loneliness
Like a heartbeat.. drives you mad
In the stillness of remembering what you had
And what you lost...
And what you had...
And what you lost
Thunder only happens when its raining
Players only love you when theyre playing
Say... women... they will come and they will go
When the rain washes you clean... youll know
Now here I go again, I see the crystal visions
I keep my visions to myself
Its only me
Who wants to wrap around your dreams and...
Have you any dreams youd like to sell?
Dreams of loneliness...
Like a heartbeat... drives you mad...
In the stillness of remembering what you had...
And what you lost...
And what you had...
And what you lost
Thunder only happens when its raining
Players only love you when theyre playing
Say... women... they will come and they will go
When the rain washes you clean... youll know
2 comments:
I so agree. One of my favorite lines that I have come up with to describe how I see my situation is that I dug myself out of a hole only to find myself at the foot of a huge mountain. I am learning to use the fear of falling back into the hole as opposed to falling down the mountain, to keep me clean. As I really ran into the ground my using, this is relatively easy. This leaves me to struggle to become a more fulfilled person and not struggle to avoid a relapse. And since the better part of my using was an attempt to escape the harsh realities of life, this is a blessing for sure. I also know that if I could have continued to support myself (physically and emotionally)in the most minimal way possible, I would still be using. I don't think there is a pill that can cure that. But that is what I know about me and only me.
This is a tough one. I so agree that the spiritual component is at the core of both the malady and the recovery. But the damage done by addiction--including death--is so profound, that we cannot but pursue anything that might save lives.
My fear is that the Prometa-takers will stop using for a time and then go back because they don't try to treat the spiritual malady (the preconceptions about 12-step programs are legion-I know because I had them) and they find life relentless and grey.
Perhaps though, at least unintoxicated, they might be able to notice those of us in recovery are not a glum lot and are actually having rich, textured lives. Come on in people, the waters FIIIIINNNNE.
Post a Comment