Patrols help chronic inebriates cope with Interior cold spell
Published Wednesday, January 7, 2009
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FAIRBANKS — The words come out in bits and pieces. A jumble of contorted sounds about a hotel, checks and a bank refusing to cash them.
Everything the woman, a petite lady in her 50s in a heavy black jacket and plaid hat, says is heavily slurred.
Her name is Maria, and she is very, very drunk. Her level of intoxication at two in the afternoon on Tuesday is more than four times the legal limit of 0.08. Most people get sick or pass out when they’re that drunk.
She is just one of the 40 to 60 chronic inebriates in Fairbanks at any given time that Janelle Wilhelm deals with on a daily basis, a task made all the more challenging by the brutal cold spell that has hung over the Interior for two weeks now.
“The length of this one is what’s hurting us,” Wilhelm said. “They’re intentionally trying to get themselves locked into businesses. They’re causing more of a problem. Many of the businesses don’t want them in there. They fear they’re costing them business.”
Wilhelm, the supervisor for the Fairbanks Downtown Association’s Community Service Patrol, listens intently to what Maria says, trying to make out her story. She goes to the nearby downtown bank to get the full story. Maria doesn’t actually have an account there, and instead has someone else watching over her money.
With no money for a hotel and nowhere else to go, Wilhelm takes her to the Fairbanks Correctional Center where she’ll sleep it off for the next 12 hours. It’s a popular destination for many inebriates now as temperatures reach 40 and 50 below zero at night.
“Several times a week, they come up to us at night and ask for sleep off,” Wilhelm said.
It’s Wilhelm’s job to patrol the downtown area, most of the time for chronic inebriates, and to transport them to jail, detox or a local home in the CSP van if they’re unable to care for themselves. The CSP van responds to some 3,000 calls each year.
In the summer, they spread out over several blocks and often gather outside, but in the winter when the temperature drops, inebriates spend most of their time looking for a warm place.
Rather than walking the streets, Wilhelm canvasses the crevices of downtown businesses like the Co-op Building. While most people know the Co-op Building for its restaurants and gift shops on the first floor, there’s also a maze of corridors, closets and a crawl space that extend upstairs, the perfect squatting grounds.
Wilhelm has been with the CSP for several years, and she knows all the hidden spots where drunks try to stay warm. Driving down Cushman Street, she points out the bank with a vent where someone can sleep all night when it’s a little bit warmer or the heated entryway at the fire department where someone sneaks in almost every night.
“I understand. They’re looking for a warm place to go, but the businesses just don’t want their customers seeing it,” Wilhelm said, though she admitted some places become slightly more tolerant of inebriates during a cold snap.
Even in Tuesday’s heavy ice fog, Wilhelm was able to easily spot Maria and another man as they tried to keep warm in the corridor near a downtown restaurant.
“You wouldn’t have really thought to look there,” she said. “I look in there when I walk past it, when I drive past it, when I’m a block away.”
The cold weather poses a major threat to chronic inebriates, already an at-risk population made up mostly of transients and mostly of men between the ages of 30 and 50.
Wilhelm has already seen her fair share of cold weather injuries from those who have passed out outside during this cold spell.
“The most severe right now is a gentleman, one of our very common pick ups, somebody we deal with almost on a daily basis has lost the tips of three of his fingers, and the fourth one is in question,” she said.
Wilhelm said she would not be surprised to hear about at least a couple more similar cases this winter.
“It gets depressing sometimes,” she said. “You pick up the same people year after year and sometimes you just want to shake them and say, ‘You’re killing yourself.’”
There are other challenges to the CSP’s job in this temperature. For one, because inebriates dress in heavier layers, it’s harder to pat them down for contraband before taking them to detox or sleep off. Wilhelm wonders if drugs are harder to get in the winter or just easier to conceal.
Another thing that makes the job that much more difficult is that some inebriates — drunk and tired of removing layers of clothing to go to the bathroom — will simply relieve themselves in what they’re wearing.
The freezing temperatures also pose a problem to the most important tool of the CSP: its van. So far this winter, the van has already needed a new alternator, starter, and twice, a heating coil. In this weather, Wilhelm doesn’t dare shut off the van when she makes a stop in case it won’t start again.
“We’re just kind of keeping it going as much as we can right now,” she said.
There is one refuge in the cold, however. St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church allows the homeless to use its day room from about 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. everyday. Shortly after noon Tuesday, about 10 people had gathered there, quietly playing dice, reading or listening to music. One man slept on the floor under a table.
“Some move all night, stay warm and just wait for something to open up,” Wilhelm said.
She knows most of the people in this room on a first name basis from previous contacts. A few she hadn’t seen in several weeks. Surprisingly, they were completely sober.
“I’m speechless,” she said. “That makes my year right there.”
Community Discussion
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It's a tough job.
“It gets depressing sometimes,” she said. “You pick up the same people year after year and sometimes you just want to shake them and say, ‘You’re killing yourself.’”
But doing so in their brain degenerated state of mind (due to alcohol poisoning of the liver and releasing large amounts of toxins into the brain), would make you appear as a threat rather then a good person.
From what I know, all you can do is keep carting them to a safer place and hopefully they'll realize from (hopefully good) stress, that they're wasting their life. <shrugs>
God bless you, Janelle. You obviously care about these people.
A friend who spent decades on the streets told me they know they're killing themselves. But they can't stop. So sad.
But take heart. Some do find the road to sobriety, as my friend has. It's worth all the work and unpleasantness if you save just one.
Maybe we could get a grant and send them to California for the winter.It'd be much safer for them there,all the sun and fresh veggies,something we don't have in Fairbanks,and with California's liberal values and social programs, our inebriates might see the error of their ways and become productive citizens.
How is it they have the money to buy booze, and more than likely cigaretts, but cant pay for a room? Every good alcholic need an "enabler" to help them keep drinking,, I know, I am one. Tough love works much better than pampering, the young lady needs some educatiion on how the drunk mind works. Drugs hard to find in the winter? Sure tells me she is not very "street smart". Tell me the drug you wont and I will have it for you within the half hour, and I have been clean and sober for over 15 years. If you really need something just ask one of our men in blue, they know where they are.
Bugger,
Spot on! Sadly, as long as there are drugs and alcohol there will be abusers. It's human nature for a segment of society to abuse. I don't know of any way to stop it but I'm not in favor of enabling it.
I think those individuals and businesses in favor of the community patrol and upcoming wet shelter should pay a tax to keep them funded or let them sleep it off in their homes and businesses.
Janelle and the CSP staff deserve an award. This story points up the need for a damp shelter. I cannot retrieve my mail from the downtown post office early in the AM before it opens because there are always a group of chronic inebriates and sometimes they get pretty vocal. I think they are harmless, but when there are six of them and one of me and they approach me, it makes me nervous so I have to avoid going there early.
Janelle!!! You rock!! Thank you for all you and the awesome group of CSP drivers do!! We very much appreciate your services!
Bugger and sep... not spot on... it is very difficult to pat someone down who has 5-6 layers of clothing on sometimes frozen with urine or feces! When she states the drugs are harder to find in the winter she is referring to in their possession.. not on the street!
Fairbanks Native Association has a large gym at the Ralph Perdue Center which is now its administative building since it lost it's treatment programs. They can open this as a crisis center for this purpose. Oh wait they won't make millions off of it so I guess they will use it as a work out center for their employees. FNA has collected millions and millions of dollars for the purpose of helping inebriates over the past 25 years and nothing has changed. The business of recovery in this town has been a make work project, not a help people project.
Put a warm-up shack next to the nativity scene in front of city hall.City employees can supervise it.The Mayor can have the graveyard shift.
big sigh. there is no solution to this inebriate problem that will make everyone happy, nor get promising results. give them a warm place to stay, and it gives them no incentive to want to change (or otherwise die in the cold). withhold shelter and care, and they die frozen to the sidewalk. both scenarios end in the taxpayer footing the bill.
i too wonder how some are able to consistently get themselves sloshed, and picked up on a regular basis, if they apparently don't have money to stay at a cheap motel. i mean, liquor is not cheap, even bottom shelf firewater.
but nonetheless, i commend those who spend much of their time taking care of these individuals when they have no regard for themselves. hopefully one day they will snap out of it before it's too late...
If many of these individuals have someone else managing their monies, why is it then they do not pay for motel room for them so that they are able to get in out of the cold? Or at least CSP should have a list of these 'managers' so they can be contacted for 'funds' to put them up during the cold.
Every Church in the City should be required to provide a warm space for these sick, cold people. Or revoke their tax exempt status.
Churches have some of the most valuable real estate in town but pay no property tax and are not subject to zoning laws...Give them the choice of helping to care for God's unfortunate diseased drunks or pay property tax to help the City care for them.
Other private social/service clubs have to pay property tax...why shouldn't churches? If anyone else owned that real estate they would have to pay taxes on it.
Growing up my cousin was my best friend shes now a street person. i dont know why or what happened. I have watched her try to sober up and know that its a very painful process. it makes me sick that some of you are so heartless to other people. They are people who have made a few wrong choices in life. This does not mean that we should turn our backs on them and let them die in the cold. What Janelle does is amazing and I thank God for her everyday.
James-95% of the time I see a comment written by you I puke in my mouth. Why? Because your comments are usually racist. You are an ignorant piece of racist trash. At least these sick people are not driving around making it unsafe for everyone. Read the paper. I worked in this convenient store while I was going to school and I would see the same people come in everyday and buy a case of beer. Guess what? Wow! They were white. There is no magic cure for Alcoholism. It is a disease, just like cancer, diabetes, AIDS. Can't snap your finger and make it go away. We can hope that eventually it will go away. Many of these Natives on the street have children, children who are making the decision to break the cycle. I did! Go on spouting your racist comments about the Native community. You only make yourself look bitter and ugly. Wake up! Your race, I am assuming is white, is soon to be the minority. So put your dunce cap back on and crawl into that little hole of self pity that you probably live in.
Folks with a lot of money still fail in treatment. The VN Vets out there have been left out in the open, being abandoned by those whom they served. Get closer to the situation before making disparaging remarks. What is happening with the Alaska spirit?
It's hard to help someone when they refuse to help themselves. Where are they getting the money for drugs and alcohol? I'm guessing it's from that monthly check us taxpayers are sending them.
Another thought; how many open beds do they have over at that new psychiatric treatment center? The borough is trying to circumvent the legal laws to forgive their $276,000 tax bill. Maybe they can house some of these drunks until the $276,000 is used up or they can pay their tax bill to provide other means of assistance....
my question is why we don't offer these people some help or counseling instead of just a warm place to sleep the alcohol off.
oh, wait. programs that would help these people would cost, like, money. and they're stupid liberal social programs. so never mind that idea.
Light counseling isnt going to work, they are past the stage of abuse and into the land of dependence. They need srtict resedential (not jail) treatment. Kudos too those individuals helping these people, who have been drinking so long that they cant stop by without intervention. Dont forget, its considered a disease for a reason.
oops, cant stop by 'themselves'...without intervention. More coffee is in my future.
DirkWigdoubt, I'm sure you must tithe at least your 10% of your gross income to our local churches to pay for housing such homless and also pay for supervision/security to the chuch memebers/children who would be there exposed to these drunk homeless you want them to shelter. Otherwise, you would have no room to criticize.
I don't think counseling will help. Many of these folks are beyond that. Since, they don't care about themselves, why should we? Again, if you believe in supporting them...then pony up to the bar and pay for their care. Put your money where your heart is.
I'll put my money towards people who care about themselves and want to make something of their lives. The older I get, the less tolerance I have for freeloaders. Now if you'll excuse me, I gotta head back to work and contribute to society...unless of course some of you want to pay me to stay home and drink or use drugs.
It is tentively classified as a disease. We arent talking about the guys at the bar peeing on the bouncer. We are talking about life long alcoholics, who have now become dependent on their drug. It effects the way they think, has probably caused a number of other problems, including malnutrition, heart disease, any disease of the liver, brain damage.....disease or not, its not pretty.
Back to Alaska someday-What world do you live in? Your own? Alcoholism is a disease, an incurable one at that. It can also be an inherited disease. PUUULLLEAASSSEEE!
FreeDarfur, Ralph Perdue Center is still an active residential treatment center. One of the basic principles of recovery is staying away from others who abuse. There is no way FNA could allow inebriates in the center where they would come into contact with those who are trying to get their feet on the ground and stay clean and sober.
Dirk, all non-profit agencies are tax-exempt - not just churches. And many of the churches in this town DO help these people.
AKN8NVA, good for you for breaking the cycle! Stay vigilant. Keep your commitment. I wish you the best.
Dellroy, we taxpayers are not sending these people a monthly check. Do your homework before you make condescending accusations.
majast2211, there are very successful programs available that are free. Some are underwritten by local churches. Reformers Unanimous, for example, has a 75% success rate for those who seriously commit to the program. It's a big step for an addicted person to reach out for help. They've failed so many times before..... But help IS available.
Right, it is a choice, but it is a disease! And one they have no control over, just like cancer, diabetes or AIDS!
http://www.medschoolchat.com/displayarti... Just one of many......
I think alot of people like being homeless downtown. The current conditions make it uncomfotable but in all, most have uncles, aunties moms dads etc. that take care of them.
Thanks for following up alaskaflower. And for those still asking why, see my post earlier. First comment on this article and it answered "Why?". Maybe it wasn't clear enough. I'll reiterate.
"Alcohol poisoning of the liver/pancrease releases large amounts of toxins into the brain. This in turn kills the brain and degenerates the person to the mental state of a 2 year old." Have you ever told a 2 year old not to touch the stove? At this point, even most doctors give up as statistics state they're already considered dead at this point.
And while at this state, they believe that they need alcohol in order to survive as they're drinking 24/7 and not eating.
They will puke blood and still try to drink >80 proof alcohol.
And, spending money on a warm shelter might not be the answer. All it does is give them a nice place to drink more, but then again, they're not dieing on the street.
I think the current routine of taking them off the streets and putting them in either detox, rehab or corrections is sufficient. If anything, put the money into counselors visiting those choosing jail/corrections.. or else where internally.
I strongly believe if one finds the right path, they *can* guide them to the right path. The only thing we have to put up with is the fact they're so darn slow and take baby steps. And, they tire us out.
And, as far as where they get the money for alcohol, girls have *no* problems getting money. (Learned this 25 years ago in a high school health class.) So, curb the influence of money, and you get your first baby step.
Guys, from what I hear, are usually a little more easier to rehab then girls.
Sending them south to California, is probably like giving them a plane ticket to a warm tropical island loaded with alcohol, as there are many caring people driving down the street handing them money because, "They Care."
Back_To_Alaska_Someday said "Alcohalism is not a "DISEASE", it is a choice!"
Did you think up that little piece of wisdom all on your own? Interesting, since the medical and scientific communities widely agree that alcoholism is, ideed, a disease!
You also said "You don't choose the get cancer, or diabetes, or AIDS."
Actually, many cancers are lifestyle related, such as the vast majority of cases of lung cancer. The vast majority of diabetes cases are also caused by a lifestyle choice, as are most cases of AIDS.
I'm sorry you lost your father to kidney cancer....very tragic. You seem like a very bitter person at this time and I sincerely hope you allow yourself to heal.
alaskaflower, you are the one way off base and out of touch with reality. We taxpayers are supporting their habit if they are collecting a monthly welfare/government check, which most are doing by the way. So you need to do your homework before making any remarks.
I also think that these people should be required to take a drug test before they get any free handouts i.e. welfare check. I had to for my currrent job and I think anyone benefiting from my tax dollars should be required to do the same. I work to support my family and I shouldn't be required to take care of these bums as well. Call it heartless if you want, but I'm in agreement with sep - "The older I get, the less tolerance I have for freeloaders".
Back to Alaska, I once believed as you do, that calling alcoholism a disease was a cop-out for accepting responsibility for choosing to drink.
But that was before I began working with the addicted and making an effort to learn more about how to help them. And that was before I got to know some of these people personally, heard their stories, witnessed their ongoing struggles. I listened to them so I would know how to help them. I did research to educate myself on the medical and psychological aspects of alcoholism.
Yes, alcoholism IS a disease. Being drunk is just that - being drunk. But the drunk person may or may nor have the disease of alcoholism. Heavy drinking over a long period of time causes physiological and psychological changes that the person has to live with for the rest of his or her life. That is what makes it a disease. No, it’s not a contagious disease. But it is a disease nonetheless. The permanent damage contributes to the bondage that already exists due to the addictive nature of alcohol and drugs.
True, the person makes the choice to have that initial drink. The “It will never happen to me” mentality keeps them from realizing where that initial choice could lead.
At some point, many people who drink cross that point of no return where they can no longer make a choice to drink or not to drink. Drinking becomes a compulsion – something they cannot resist. They continue to poison themselves with alcohol, and they sink deeper and deeper into the pit that holds them captive. They are slowly destroying themselves (and those they love) and they can’t stop. They know they are killing themselves, but they cannot resist that next drink. I have been told by someone who lived that life for many years that they live in fear of dying from alcohol. They know that their drinking is killing them, and yet they cannot stop. It’s easy to say “They refuse to get help” when you have never walked in their shoes.
continued…
The poison of alcohol damages their liver, their heart, and other internal organs, nerves, and body parts. But the worst of all is what happens to their brain. Most people realize that alcohol destroys memory. But it goes far beyond that. Alcohol actually destroys entire areas of the brain. One area that most often is destroyed is the part of the brain that handles “cues.” Cues are those reminders that tell you what to do and what not to do.
For example, a normal person might see someone approaching that they used to drink with, and they would receive a cue from their brain that says, “I used to drink with this person. I should avoid them.” An alcoholic, on the other hand, does not receive that warning message, and happily greets an old friend, likely ending up sitting at the bar to visit.
Or, a person might be feeling lonely and thinking about going to the bar to be with friends. A normal person might think, “I should call John. He doesn’t drink.” But an alcoholic misses this “cue” and heads to the bar to be with people.
In addition to the brain damage, there are thought patterns that develop that enforce the patterns of addiction. Negative self image (“I always fail.”), denial (“I can handle it.”), self-medication (“I’ll be OK if I just have one drink.”), acceptance of the status quo (“I’m an alcoholic. I can’t change.”) and many other faulty thought processes become firmly entrenched, as do the habits of a longtime lifestyle.
Add to that the fact that it has been scientifically proven that Asian/Native American people have a genetic predisposition to alcohol addiction (It is easier for them to become addicted.), and you begin to understand that alcoholism truly is a disease and not a choice.
Back to Alaska said, “You don’t choose to get cancer, or diabetes, or AIDS.” That is true. Yet people who choose to smoke risk getting lung cancer, people who choose to overeat and not exersice risk getting type 2 diabetes, and people who choose to engage in homosexual acts risk getting AIDS. And people who choose to drink risk becoming alcoholics. If only we could somehow get our young people to see the dangers ahead before they ever take that first drink….. Alcoholism is just as much a disease as cancer, diabetes or AIDS. But an even more destructive one.
I cant believe the callousness of some of these remarks. Humanity has certainly taken a turn for the worse.
Dellroy, you are mistaken. Welfare is generally not available to adults unless they have dependent children, and even then they are limited to five years of benefits for a lifetime. There are exceptions for food stamps for seniors, but cases of cash payments are extremely limited. And people who are chronic inebriates are incapable of staying on top of the necessary applications, documentation, even for those few who might be eligible for financial help.
And before someone mentions monthly Native Corporation checks ~ there is no such thing.
BTW, "....and people who choose to engage in homosexual acts risk getting AIDS...."surely you are aware that ANYONE who involves themselves in UNSAFE sexual actvity is AT RISK FOR AIDS. Not just homosexuals, a typo I think?
It’s a tough job watching after drunks” but someone got to do it!
Yeah alaskaflower... what is with the homosexual acts and AIDS thing? Please tell me you are keeping abreast on all the AIDS information out there. Jeez when I was in elementary and middle school we even were being tought that anyone could get it and were teaching us the transmission methods...
Cruel and callous and sure to earn a lot of backlash but I say let them freeze they are choosing to continue to drink and not better themselves, taxpayers should not be having to pay to keep a free ride and a warm place waiting for them. If they've driven their friends and family away then that's their choosing too. I refuse to help an addict keep being an addict. Sorry I'm just inhumane that way but it's my opinion and I say more power to those who want to help them like Janelle I however do not.
So you would say the same about a veteran who fell into a downward spiral with their PTSD? Lotsa 'Nam homeless around here and elsewhere, akarmywife.
And FWIW, while I was in the USAF, alcoholism, by policy, was/is viewed as a treatable, preventable disease.
And as some of the Recovered have posted here in the past, people aren't ready for the road to recovery will not be until they make up their own minds.
Folks like Janelle are to be commended for their time and commitment to those who are floundering.
It sure is a tough issue. "Tough love" in this case could mean death to someone who is so sick they'll take alcohol over anything, including their own fingers, much less a functional life. What's a society to do with adult people unable and/or unwilling to care for themselves? It takes special people to deal with the problem, and I'm really glad Janelle and her team are there. It would be terrible to find people frozen to death all over town when it's this cold, even if it was "their own" fault. People who would allow mentally ill people to just die seem to have hearts colder than the sub-zero temps. I know it's a fine line between compassion and enabling, but I think it's better for us as humans to err on the side of compassion. It may not help them stop drinking, but it helps us be better humans in the long run. (And even though I used the terms, I don't believe it's a "them and us" situation. You never know what circumstances could put any of "us" where "they" are.)
alaskaflower - thanks for the explanation of the disease. The AIDS thing was way off base though. For one thing, lesbians have the lowest incidence of AIDS as a sexual group, so the homosexual statement was not true. You could have said, "If you don't want AIDS, don't engage in unsafe sexual activity or shoot drugs with dirty needles," or something like that. :-) I'd like to add that the frontal lobe of the brain gets messed up in addiction as well. It's like the "I shouldn't do that," thought is wiped out and the addict can only see doing the act as if they really didn't have a choice. This is a scientific fact and although it makes it seem like it's hopeless for addicts to quit, I think that knowing how their brains work will help in the long run in treating addiction. It's not just a matter of self control, in fact, the body actually loses that capability. And like alaskaflower said, when the brain chemistry is changed, it's difficult for people to live without their drug, and their lives become wrapped up in getting it. I don't think there's anything we can do to help people unless they want help, so housing them out of the cold will be about all we can really do, but like I said before, not letting them die does good things for our hearts, even it doesn't help them at all. And doing good things for the health of our own hearts, isn't a bad thing. Compassion is good for the heart and the soul. It's not the foolish act some on this comment section would have us believe.
Kudos to St. Matthew's Episcopal for their compassion in allowing the folks to come in out of the cold.
Yota99714 - That is so true about homeless vets. And with these two wars, that number is bound to increase, especially with veterans benefits cut by this administration. We can't just turn our backs on these people. They gave a lot and deserve all the medical treatment America can give them, even though it'll never make up for what they lost.
AKARMYWIFE - All I have to say is what goes around, comes around. Your harsh judgment may very well come back to haunt you one day.
doris- not likely considering I'm not an alcoholic, drug addict, nor do I smoke so I don't believe I will ever find myself living on the street dying to keep up my habit and I also haven't given my family any reason to abandon all hope on me so if I ever need help or fall down on my luck I am sure they will always be there for me. I strive every day to have a steady and stable future myself and to be a contribution to our society. Indeed some of these people might be Nam vets but there's this association called Disabled American Veterans, DAV, who would be more than willing to get evaluations, medical care, and help for these people but more likely than not they'd just continue to use that monthly disability check to keep their habit going. Help exists in more forms than one, these people choose not to seek it so therefore I choose not to make excuses for them.
Let them freeze
Janelle you have a huge heart! God loves you! A huge award also should be given to the St.Matthew church for setting an example for other churches to follow the brotherhood of man. Father Scott and Parish Administrator Hillary are the love behind this kindness.
AKARMYWIFE - I guess you have your life so together that nothing could ever happen to put you where the people you have no compassion for are. Lucky you. For the record though, many alcoholics and homeless people don't believe they deserve help, thanks in part to attitudes like yours and kar98k's, so it's not always a simple matter of "signing up" at the DAV.
Personally, I don't want to live in a society in which we just let mentally ill people die on the streets. I think it says a lot more about "us" than it does about "them."
I think that when a person has lost all hope they fall into a despair and want to numb themselves with drugs and alcohol.
Most of the time the despair begins during childhood with some type of abuse so the only real way to prevent it is to not abuse your children. Abused children come from all types of households not just the poor.
Although it does happen to adults too. Probably because they as adults cannot live with themselves for some reason(usually because they did something bad) and just want to block everything out and use drugs or alcohol to numb themselves.
Also, I have seen it happen to children that are not disciplined and given everything without having to work for it whether it is clothes or money. Not sure why they would chose to become addicts though. Any thoughts?
The world would be a better place if we had more people like Janelle.
Thebanks, you make some good points.
To answer your question, NO ONE chooses to become an addict. It happens because they choose to drink or do drugs, and before they know it they can't stop. True, not every person who drinks becomes an addict. But is it worth the risk? It's like Russian Roulette. It only takes one bullet to kill you. And it only takes one night of drinking to put you "over the line" where you can no longer resist.
For all who wish to solve the homeless inebriate situation please do so! If you are feeling some guilt because we have 40 to 60 folks in this town that don't give a darn about themselves please do what is necessary to relieve your guilt.
You want to be another Janelle? Go for it. Get off your butt and do what you think is the right thing to do. I will honor you with a cold beer and a toast with my friends for your efforts.
Just make sure you leave me and my wallet out of your solutions. I will get my warm and fuzzy feelings providing for family and friends who give a damn.
andjusticeforall: you sound just like some lying district attorney read it again, nice try ,it says she doesn't know if drugs are harder to "GET" or just easier to conceal !
SO, YOU ARE CONVINCED THAT ALCOHOLISM IS A DISEASE!
The Problem is not Alcoholism,
But Alcohol.
If it is a disease, it is one without germ or virus.
If it is a disease, it is the only one that is self inflicted.
If it is a disease, it is the only one contacted by an act of the will.
If it is a disease,it is the only one bottled and sold over the counter for a profit.
If it is a disease,it is the only one that brings in tax revenue for the Federal, State, and City governments.
If it is a disease, it is the only one that takes thousands of outlets in every town to spread it.
If it is a disease, it is the only one that they spend millions of dollars a year to advertise and spread.
If it is a disease, it is the only one that provokes crime and corrupts our courts and law inforcement officials.
If it is a disease, it is the only one that turns "OUR" boys into criminals and "OUR" girls into prostitutes.
If it is a disease, it is the only one that will cause a father togo home and and take his baby by the heels and beat it's brains out.
If it is a disease, it is the only one that will take the clothes from the back, shoes from the feet, and bread from the mouths of a man's family.
If it is a disease, it is the only disease that is bottled and sold, causing our jails and mental instatutions to be filled.
If it is a disease it is the only one that is given for a Christmas present.
*SOCIETY CALLS ALCOHOLISM A "DISEASE"
##THE WORD OF GOD CALLS IT SIN ##
Which one do you consider correct?
1st Corrinthians 6:10
She is just one of the 40 to 60 "chronic inebriates".
Why can't we just call these people what they are "alcoholics"?
I think I prefer medical science, over a rant.
Obed9, it is not alcoholism that does all those things. It is alcohol.
The Word of God does not call alcoholism a sin. It DOES call drunkenness a sin.
A person can be drunk without being an alcoholic. And a person may not have had a drink in years, but still be an alcoholic, living daily with the consequences of their former drunkenness.
Alcoholism is a disease.
Drinking alcohol is stupidity. No-one serving time for a DUI ever thought it would happen to them. That single mother whose morals were compromised by a night of drinking never thought it would happen to her. That woman crying herself to sleep every night because she drove drunk and killed a child - maybe her own - never thought it would happen to her. And that homeless drunk staggering down Second Avenue or passed out on the sidewalk never thought his drinking would lead him to such degradation.
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