Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform > News Items
If you like posts by hostile people, you'll love this guy!
Anonymous:
HamiltonF proves the point of addressing adolescent addiction: Pierre Burton started smoking Dope when in his 40s! He had success, coping mechanisms, and only does it once a month! I am sober 12 years, started smoking dope as a child and led a life of crime for over 10 years by the time I got to AARC. My drug of choice, by far, was pot. Adults who start drinking or getting high smoking the occaissional joint are not nearly in as much danger of addiction as a 12 or 13 year old.
As for the point someone raised about a natural high, it took me years of sobriety until I discovered meditation, which is recommended by AA. I have had incredible moments, and even days since starting meditation. I was inspired by Noah Levine, in his book Dharma PunX. It costs me nothing to meditate, has proven benefits (ask the Dalai Lama), and has just been a pleasure.
Just a few thoughts.
Hamiltonf:
That doesn't prove anything of the sort. But there is no question that adolescent use of illicit substances may be harmful. But even then, it does not inevitably lead to deathdiseasecrimeorandorinsanity. Alcohol has just as much chance of leading to these as marijuana - when consumed in back streets or behind a parent's back. But it's the illegality , the set and setting that has to do with that.
The "addictive potential" of pot is quite low, even with adolescents. But the circumstances in which it may be consumed, because of its illegality, (and possibly because of panicky parents) is what is dangerous.
As a parent I can tell you that I would be far more concerned if my child were smoking ordinary cigarettes or drinking secretly than smoking pot.
And I sure as hell wouldn't buy into Dean Vause's propaganda that those or any illicit drug was a sure pathway to self-destruction and life on the streets. Kids experiment, so the first thing to remember if you find the indicia of drug taking that AARC tell you about is DON'T PANIC.
Remember, the vast majority of kids who experiment with drugs either grow out of it altogether or moderate their use to such an extent that it does not interfere with their ability to function.
So, for every Pierre Burton that you say proves the problem of adolescent addiction, I can produce dozens of "successful" professionals who will admit to adolescent use of pot, LSD and a few who even used cocaine. This is not to approve of it but simply to emphasize that the cataclysmic thinking of those under the influence of Dean Vause's ideology gives rise to a cure that is worse than the disease. For what this perverted form of "therapy" does is to completely abrogate the function of free-will.
Judging from the self-righteous vituperative language of those on this thread who support AARC, I would suggest the one thing that AARC has failed to do is provide any insight for its victims into their own behaviour. Rather, by breaking them down (as I caught a glimpse of in "Recovering Crystal") AARC is the very opposite of therapy. Purely and simply it is indeed, cultic brainwashing.
Anonymous:
"So, for every Pierre Burton that you say proves the problem of adolescent addiction, I can produce dozens of "successful" professionals who will admit to adolescent use of pot, LSD and a few who even used cocaine. This is not to approve of it but simply to emphasize that the cataclysmic thinking of those under the influence of Dean Vause's ideology gives rise to a cure that is worse than the disease. For what this perverted form of "therapy" does is to completely abrogate the function of free-will. "
Riiight....and I can produce thousands of hardened, violent criminals who will admit to the adolescent use of pot, LSD, cocaine and MDMA. When I was smoking dope (I rarely smoked cigarettes), and drinking, I committed a home invasion, sold drugs to kids, bought and sold firearms, committed kidnapping, extorsion and assault. No one brainwashed me at AARC into acknowledging my addiction, I merely related past incidents, from beginning to end, and saw how every one related to my daily using. AARC merely extend what happens in 12 step meetings every day - talking about what it was like,what happened, and what it's like now.
As for preferring your kids use marijuana rather than cigarettes, that is like saying I would prefer my kid to use cyanide over arsenic - why use anything at all? And what age would you allow your children to get high? And should they drive, operate machinery or fly? It's difficult enough to test impaired drivers for alcohol, let alone marijuana.
Antigen:
--- Quote ---On 2004-10-17 07:30:00, Anonymous wrote:
Riiight....and I can produce thousands of hardened, violent criminals who will admit to the adolescent use of pot, LSD, cocaine and MDMA.
--- End quote ---
And if you ask them, you'll find that most of them also drank milk. Correlation is not causation. The trouble w/ your theory is the hundreds of millions of people who use these drugs and don't ever commit crimes against anybody.
--- Quote ---When I was smoking dope (I rarely smoked cigarettes), and drinking, I committed a home invasion, sold drugs to kids, bought and sold firearms, committed kidnapping, extorsion and assault.
--- End quote ---
And when I and my friends were smoking pot, we didn't do any of those things. We went to school, got decent grades then moved on to work and adult responsibilities. It's pathetic and weak for you to blame drugs for your own shameful behavior.
--- Quote ---It's difficult enough to test impaired drivers for alcohol, let alone marijuana. "
--- End quote ---
Actually, Canadian, Dutch and Swedish studies all concluded that marijuana is less impairing than alcohol. Now, that said, I wouldn't want my kids driving impaired at all. And I'd bet good money (not to mention non-material things of real value) that I have more influence and credibility w/ my kids by telling them the truth than you do by trying to pass off your brand of hysteria as adult wisdom.
A wise and frugal government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another; shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement
Thomas Jefferson
--- End quote ---
Antigen:
--- Quote ---On 2004-10-16 18:23:00, Anonymous wrote:
Adults who start drinking or getting high smoking the occaissional joint are not nearly in as much danger of addiction as a 12 or 13 year old.
--- End quote ---
Actually, that's a wash too. Turns out that alcoholism is rare in cultures that teach their children responsible alcohol use from childhood. It's in our modern European cultures, where drinking is kept in the pubs, away from the children, banished on Sundays where we have problems.
The right to do something does not mean that doing it is right.
--William Safire
--- End quote ---
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