For me, my friend’s girlfriend being decapitated by a drunk driver as she was walking home from the store had quite an impact on the decision to not drink. I never cared to try it when I was younger and up until and after her death I never cared to and continued to enjoy being a trustworthy friend to call in case of a need for a designated driver. I am 28 and the best drugs I have had are Codeine and Vicodin under a doctor’s prescription. Aside from that, I have not tried a street drug, alcohol, nor smoked. Most 28 year olds cannot say that.
In our society it is deemed wrong to engage in such activities. I see limited issues of this nature in European nations. I believe there are uses for these items in private and semi-private atmospheres. Use of marijuana in the home I do not have a problem with. Otherwise it should be treated like alcohol. Use of alcohol in the settings it is currently used in should be perfectly fine. I believe that laws are taking away personal responsibility for these substances. In Nevada it is perfectly legal to walk around town with an open container. In California you’d be arrested. The standard of responsibility is higher with the individual in Nevada than it is in California. Here it is dictated what can and cannot be done and you follow the law accordingly. Other drugs such as Meth and Heroine have no real use other than altering brain function and chemicals.
The difference between use and abuse is ingesting the substance moderately as opposed to ingesting a substance chronically. A glass of wine with dinner or a shot of bourbon before bed is healthy according to many doctors. Using wine or bourbon as an escape from problems is unhealthy.
Interestingly enough, last year I wrote a resolution for the issue of marijuana use in the US. Maybe one day I will submit it to be considered for Federal law. I call it ATM-420 (Alcohol, Tobacco, Marijuana).
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Factors Determining Care of Mental Health Consumers
This topic can get very touchy. While I respect and encourage people to use their rights responsibly (the “just because you can, doesn’t mean you should” kind of philosophy), I must insist that once people become a menace (meant in the kindest way) or hazard to those around them their rights should be nullified by next-of-kin. If there is no next-of-kin I do NOT believe that the government should be able to force someone into care unless they have endangered someone’s well-being/safety or committed a crime as is current law.
Simply “having” a mental illness does not denote a public safety risk. Many do not even realize they have an illness until it strongly manifests itself and others become aware of it. If the government were to be able to place people they “feel” had an illness in an institution think of the abuse of power that would come of it. The government works for us, not the other way around and a mentally ill person is still a rights-bearing citizen.
The issue with law is where do lawmakers and even families draw the line as to what classifies a person incompetent to make rational decisions? Some people disbelieve in modern medicine while their family members swear by it. Should a family be able to force this treatment on them regardless of how they feel about it? This also casts a shadow on the question of life v. death.
Why is the need to live so great? Why is death frowned upon? Many have argued against capitol punishment due to the belief that we have no right to take another’s life. Well on the flip side, do doctors (or anyone for that matter) have the right to keep someone alive? Who’s right to life or death is it?
For myself, I will choose to life as long as I can until I can’t bear it anymore and I will choose at that point where to go. Until then, it is nature’s choice what happens to me.
Simply “having” a mental illness does not denote a public safety risk. Many do not even realize they have an illness until it strongly manifests itself and others become aware of it. If the government were to be able to place people they “feel” had an illness in an institution think of the abuse of power that would come of it. The government works for us, not the other way around and a mentally ill person is still a rights-bearing citizen.
The issue with law is where do lawmakers and even families draw the line as to what classifies a person incompetent to make rational decisions? Some people disbelieve in modern medicine while their family members swear by it. Should a family be able to force this treatment on them regardless of how they feel about it? This also casts a shadow on the question of life v. death.
Why is the need to live so great? Why is death frowned upon? Many have argued against capitol punishment due to the belief that we have no right to take another’s life. Well on the flip side, do doctors (or anyone for that matter) have the right to keep someone alive? Who’s right to life or death is it?
For myself, I will choose to life as long as I can until I can’t bear it anymore and I will choose at that point where to go. Until then, it is nature’s choice what happens to me.
Elderly Issues
There are numerous issues for the elderly. They are near the end of life and would like to know if their life had meaning. They want to be able to spend their last moments with those they are closest to. They reflect on their life and try to make sense of the nonsense. Health and positive mental states are fading. They (like most people in any stage) fear death. They want to know they have a legacy to be proud of not just behind them, but ahead of them through those that survive them.
Creative solutions are easy. Keep them active. Always have a sense of humor and employ it often. Always remember K.I.S.S! (Keep It Simple, Stupid!). Simplicity is keeping and holding conversations relative to them and that they are familiar with. Having grand children and great grand children write letters, stories and draw pictures for them are the moments that will fill their hearts with gladness and bring joyful tears to their eyes. My daughter had this relationship with her great grandfather before he died. They had a special connection. She still cries for him especially when she does something wrong, as if he would be angry with her for any transgression. Not likely.
Creative solutions are easy. Keep them active. Always have a sense of humor and employ it often. Always remember K.I.S.S! (Keep It Simple, Stupid!). Simplicity is keeping and holding conversations relative to them and that they are familiar with. Having grand children and great grand children write letters, stories and draw pictures for them are the moments that will fill their hearts with gladness and bring joyful tears to their eyes. My daughter had this relationship with her great grandfather before he died. They had a special connection. She still cries for him especially when she does something wrong, as if he would be angry with her for any transgression. Not likely.
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