Light The World day 23 2017: Visit Those In Prison

"I was in prison, and ye came unto me."

—Matthew 25:36

The short film with this day shows a prisoner receiving a photo album from home.  Sometimes any little something can make some one's day.  However, those in a penitentiary are not the only ones in prison.  there are those in prison to drug or illness; things that take away choice.  Jeffrey R. Holland reminded us to show compassion to all God's children.  I work with people with mental illness.  A big issue facing persons with mental illness is that of Stigma.  Sometimes a person will not get needed and available help because of stigma.  

LDS 12 steps for addiction recovery: Step 9: Restitution and Reconciliation - John’s Story on Drug Addiction

Through the process of reconciliation we can receive God's mercy.  This individual relates the difficulties he had in putting his life back together.
Step 9 - Wherever possible, make direct restitution to all persons you have harmed.

LDS 12 Steps for Addiction Recovery: Step 8: Forgiveness - Larry’s Story about Drug Addiction Recovery

Larry describes giving and getting forgiveness as a poison draining from your body, from your heart and mind.
Step 8 - Seeking Forgiveness: Make a written list of all persons you have harmed and become willing to make restitution to them.

LDS 12 Steps for Addiction Recovery: Step 7: Humility - Holly’s Story about Drug Addiction Recovery

Finding Humility can be hard, but a necessary part of recovery.  In this story, Holly begins her climb to recovery after a suicide attempt.
Step 7 - Humility: Humbly ask Heavenly Father to remove your shortcomings.

LDS 12 Steps for Addiction Recovery: Step 5: Confession - Jessica’s Story about Food Addiction Recovery

Jessica tells her story of addiction to food.  She also talks about how confessing her misdeeds to her bishop was like losing 50 pounds and enabled her to move on with her life.

Step 5 - Confession: Admit to yourself, to your Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ, to proper priesthood authority, and to another person the exact nature of your wrongs.

LDS 12 Steps for Addictions: Step 4: Truth - Austin’s Story about Addiction Recovery

Step 4 - Truth: Make a searching and fearless written moral inventory of yourself.
One thing to remember about step four is that being truthful in your inventory includes taking an honest look at your strengths as well as your weaknesses.

Documentary Review: National Geographic: World's Most Dangerous Drug

It's Incredible How Deep the Hooks Go: Methamphetamine Addiction

I watched a documentary on Netflix Instant, "National Geographic: World's Most Dangerous Drug."  It indicates methamphetamine is 3.5 x more addictive than cocaine.  It talks about the cost of this drug, which has really burst upon the scene in the past 25 years.  This corresponded with the use of ephedrine in cold medicines.  Now most states limit the access to this medications, and some require a prescription.  This had the desired effect of limiting manufacture in the United States, but has not reduced the supply, as Mexican drug cartels have filled this void.
This documentary showed what happened to one's health over time with the use of this drug.  It showed this by showing different mug shots of the same people over time.  The sores and the emaciated faces where undeniable.  They also interviewed addicts, who talked about the delusions and hallucinations that accompany the use of methamphetamine.
They told the story of a young couple that became disoriented with their first use.  They were driving in a storm, and because of illusions and paranoia, and poor thinking as a result of the drug, they did not survive the storm.  This was likely their first use.  The effects of methamphetamine last longer.  The high can last for twelve hours.  This makes the drug more desirable but also more dangerous, because the drug messes up your logical thinking.
It also tells the stories of a couple people with recent sobriety.  One woman destroyed her good looks and her teeth.  The other was putting his life back together, after being in a fog for twenty years, and basically twenty years behind his classmates from high school.
WHAT I AM SAYING IS DON'T USE DRUGS, AND ESPECIALLY METHAMPHETAMINE.

Consequences of Illicit Drug Use in America

As part of completing my CEUs for licensure I did some online courses.  One of these was on the consequences of illicit drug usage.  This training explored many different types of drugs, where the drug supply was coming from, the prevalence of the drug, and the consequences of drug use on people's lives.
Consequences of drug use include: Child neglect; over 8 million children live in households where a parent is abusing drugs or alcohol. 
School performance; children using marijuana perform poorly in school, college students using prescription stimulants nonmedically also perform poorly in school.
Economic costs; the cost of drug use in the United States is close to $200 billion annually which includes both resources used to address criminal and health costs, as well as lost production.
Addiction and treatment needs; Over nine percent of those twelve and older needed treatment for a substance abuse problem.  Just over ten percent of those needing treatment received treatment.
Acute health effects; two million emergency department visits in 2008 were the result of drug usage.
Criminal justice involvement; well over half of all those arrested in the United States test positive for illicit substances, the most common being marijuana.  Of inmates in federal and state prisons, over a third admit to using drugs at the time of the offense.
Environmental impact and dangers; the most worrisome effect of drugs is the toxic methamphetamine labs around the country, in an apartment, trunk of a car or wherever.  Also of growing concern is the marijuana growing on public lands, often sponsored by Mexican drug cartels.
The training including specific effects of different drugs, including cocaine, club drugs, methamphetamine, marijuana, misuse of prescription drugs etc.  It is all nasty.  The bottom line is don't start.  If you are using drugs get help.  This is an illness for which there are effective treatment strategies.  There is a better life available.
May I recommend my son's song dealing with addiction available through this blog:
http://billywardlefamily.blogspot.com/2013/01/addictions-what-is-cost.html