El descampado

Yes, back when I was in college a psychologist diagnosed me as an alcoholic. At first I thought it was a huge obstacle in my life which I would never overcome. But with time I realized that diagnosis made me free of my chains of alcoholism. Drinking when you are alcoholic is like slavery. Alcohol was my master.

I started drinking when I was 13 for fun when I went to parties and it became a problem when I was 18. I had blackouts, I also did things when I was drunk that I regretted. I couldn’t just have one drink when I went out with my friends. There never seemed to be enough alcohol in front of me. I always wanted more.

Being an alcoholic means you are a drug addict because alcohol is a drug. You don’t choose to be an alcoholic. Alcohol chooses you. The organization of Alcoholics Anonymous roughly estimates about 10% of people who drink will become alcoholic whether they want to or not. I never wanted to become an alcoholic. It’s not something I chose.

I’ve worked as a court interpreter for the many courts in the Chicago area for the last 25 years. I’ve seen our government jail many people for drug trafficking and drug use. But yet people continue taking drugs and drugs are always available. The drug war is useless and a complete waste of taxpayer’s money.

I am going to tell you what the answer is to alcoholism and drug addiction. First we need more help for drug addicts and alcoholics. We need more treatment centers, more support. Second, drugs have to be legalized but not advertised. What needs to be illegal is the advertising and pushing of drugs like alcohol, nicotine, cannabis, cocaine, heroine and etc. Yes, all drugs.

So today I am proud to tell you that I am an alcoholic. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. I didn’t choose to be one. I had a genetic predisposition, a set of circumstances that made me become alcoholic. I have three brothers who grew up in the same household as I did. They’re not alcoholics, they drink like normal people do. My parents were not alcoholic either and neither were my grandparents.

I was lucky to find the help I needed. I found Alcoholics Anonymous which is a free anonymous organization that helps anyone who wants to quit drinking, regardless of whether they are addicted or not.

So when you see a drug addict or alcoholic please be more understanding. Alcoholism and drug addiction is not a will problem, it’s a disease and a disability. The drug addict needs help to recover. Your drug laws have never made anything better in our society. Humans are shortsighted and have a way to make things worse for everyone. The drug war is one of those things.

Peace.

Copyright © 2023 Jorge Luis Carbajosa

Tags: alcoholic anonymous, alcoholism, drug addiction, legalization of drugs, no advertising of drugs, recovery

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