Getting high…on life
Put a couple of hundred miles on my motorcycle recently, cruising the Blue Ridge Parkway, a bunch of winding mountain roads and a few towns along the way. Arrived back in Floyd shortly after the sun went down, enjoying the breeze of a Spring evening.
Amy says I always arrive back from a ride with a smile on my face. She’s right. Riding my bike is one of the ways I enjoy every day of whatever time I have left on this Earth, living life one day at a time and always to the fullest.
When enjoyed, life itself is the most powerful — and addictive — intoxicant of all: Looking through the viewfinder of my camera and capturing the exact second when a talented high school athlete scores the winning point; piecing together bits of video that turn into a film that captures the music of Floyd County; uncovering that last piece of evidence to catch a public official violating his or her trust with the public or simply cruising a country road while the wind whips my face.
Wasn’t always that way. Like too many others I faced life through a chemical-induced haze. My drug of choice was booze. For others, it can be marijuana, cocaine, meth, heroin and even the prescription drugs that doctors hand out like candy.
I was 46 when I stood up at a meeting in the basement of a church in Arlington, Virginia, and told a room full of strangers that "my name is Doug and I’m an alcoholic." In 27 days, I will stand up in another room and tell fellow travelers that "it has been exactly 15 years since my last drink."
The last 15 years have shown me just how much life I missed while under the influence. As an alcoholic, I’m an addict and addicts must be addicted to something. I chose an addiction to life.
A rambunctious youth has left me with pain from too many broken bones and too many surgical procedures to repair damage to bone and muscle. As an addict, I cannot take pain medication. It’s too easy to become addicted so I let the endorphins that my body produces naturally overcome the pain. Once you learn to trust your body the need for drugs often goes away.
I’ve thought about life a lot more over the past couple of days because of a contentious debate with some members of Floyd County’s stoner community. They are upset because I had the gall to suggest that someone who raises and distributes illegal drugs should be punished for the crime.
In some ways, it has been amusing to see how some who argue for unrestricted use of grass have displayed all the classic symptoms of frequent marijuana use: particularly paranoia and angry talk of government conspiracies. But their comedic behavior is overshadowed by the knowledge that their drug use is destructive — not only to themselves but to those around them.
Those who choose to smoke grass made a choice, just as those who drank, snorted or shot up their drug of choice made theirs. As an addict, I know that no one who is addicted to any drug can turn their life around until they themselves make the choice to do so. But those who choose to make drugs part of their lifestyle must also accept responsibility for their decision. A drunk who crawls behind the wheel of a car becomes a deadly weapon. A person who raises and distributes illegal drugs becomes a criminal. As Sammy Davis Jr. sang in the opening theme of the television show Baretta: "Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time."
Fifteen years ago, I faced a choice: Choose to keep drinking and die or choose life and live.
I chose life…and I’ve been high on it ever since.
What an amazing post! Once again you have shared part of your life with us, thank you for that.
Hi Doug,
Just wanted to make sure you weren’t calling me a stoner. I don’t use marijuana or any other illegal drug, and like you, even avoid pain medication.
If anything, most people would probably put me in the gun-totin’, short-haired, home-schooling, Republican hillbilly crowd.
I only came to Patrick’s defense because I am trying to cure people of their addiction to violence.
Glad you got out to enjoy the nice weather. I’ve been away from Floyd for a few weeks, and just came back to find everything bright green. It’s a beautiful part of the world!
…just said I had been having a contentious debate with some who are (and the ones I was speaking about have told me they do smoke grass on a regular basis). From my side, yours and my exchange of opinions has not been contentious and has, in my opinion, been productive.
Out of curiousity, how is defending a marijuana grower curing someone of "their addiction to violence?" I don’t really see the connection.
How fitting is it that Sammy Davis Jr. was a drug user? (Look it up.)
Not everyone abuses their “drug of choice” like you did. Just because some people are addicts shouldn’t mean that everyone else can’t enjoy what they want to enjoy.
How do you feel about people who drank alcohol during prohibition? (As many many people did, the law was unreasonable so many reasonable people broke it.) I suppose you would have been saying throw ‘em all in jail back then too. Right?
How insane is it that each of our last three Presidents have used drugs during their lives that would have made them criminals if they were caught. The only difference is they were not caught in the act.
The way you act like growing and smoking marijuana is the same thing as a real crime is just ridiculous. This is something that reasonable people do. And it doesn’t necessarily ruin people’s lives.
Some people smoke marijuana and end up being President of the United States (Barack Obama.) You can smoke marijuana and become the richest person in the world (Bill Gates not only smoked marijuana, he used LSD.) You can become the greatest Olympic champion in history (Michael Phelps.)
These old tales about how marijuana destroys people’s lives are nothing but hogwash. People know this stuff isn’t true anymore. Why do people insist on continuing with the easily disproved Reagan era “Just Say No” BS in 2009? It’s pathetic.
Your arguments are exceedingly weak. That’s why you don’t actually respond with anything other than insults and circular logic (“it’s the law because it’s the law.”) There is no logical rational argument to be made for marijuana to be illegal in the same society where alcohol is legal. It just doesn’t make sense.
I won’t waste my time here anymore it’s obvious that you get some kind of joy out of provoking people with your heartless nonsense.
I just hope people who may be reading this blog know that you do not represent the future of America. Those of us who believe in civil liberties will win out. Progress always wins in the end. The only question is how long will it take? If you want to get it done sooner rather than later I hope you do your part and donate to the ACLU & NORML and any other organization that supports civil liberties.
Hi Jonny,
It seems that you are also only in this debate as a matter of principle. I’m always glad to meet someone else who is willing to defend Liberty.
If you (or anyone else) wants to contact me directly, my email address is ‘markt’ at the same domain name as every other customer of Citizens.
…and he came to terms and sought help before his death in 1990. That’s why I used him as an example. He earned respect for facing his demons.
Yes, I act like using and growing marijuana is a real crime…because in spite of your recitation of the NORML talking points, it is a real crime. Simple possession is a misdemeanor in Virginia. Manufacture and distribution is a felony. Those are real crimes and real crimes result in real punishment. The issue is not whether you or some others disagree with the law. It is the law and it is a "real crime" to break the law. Your disagreement will not change the law. Your claims that drug abuse is simply an act of responsibble people will not change the law. Your selective use of facts will not make the manufacturing of marijuana less of a crime.
Yes, Barack Obama smoked grass. So did Bill Gates. They were young and they experimented. But both now say they no longer use the drug. They grew up and became responsible adults.
Sadly, some have not.
Lovely testimonial or witness. I’m not sure which is more tiresome, a recovering substance abuser or born again christian.
Ok, I’m as pleased as anyone that you have found a path that is working for you. Congratulations.
I’ve read your points of view and they are yours. I’m thrilled that you discovered loud exhaust pipes were only cool when you thought they were. Now you are the noise police.
Back to the lucky you section. Lucky to have lived through what must have been a functional alcoholic stage. It’s as if you found Jesus on your death bed and I wish we could see the debate between the old you and the new you. The old you probably would have kicked the new you in the face.
You tell tales about political shennigans which you participated in. You didn’t change anything by leaving and the line of unethical and willing replacements is longer than ever.
I’m sure Rush is high on life too. How many presidents were alcoholics or drug abusers? Do any children remain that get burned on hot stoves regardless of prior warnings?
You haven’t grown up, you are just more self righteous. I’m glad you aren’t the King of the World.
I’m defending the right of people to live their life however they wish, so long as they do no harm to another person.
Threatening to take Patrick’s home and lock him in a cage is a violent action. I don’t agree with his lifestyle, but that doesn’t mean I want to see violence done against him.
It is too easy for us to use government, with its guns and jails and tax money, to try to solve problems that have nothing to do with our self-defense. Our culture is addicted to the idea of “there oughtta be a law” every time we come across something that doesn’t suit us. Eventually, what isn’t mandated by law is forbidden, and our brief lives upon this earth are spent in the one approved lifestyle that suits the lawmakers.
I admire the fact that you are willing to devote time to help save people from the pain that substance abuse caused you. You can warn people, give moral support, ask for donations, sponsor medical research–all these things are voluntary actions and allowed in a free society. But as soon as you try to use the law–backed up by the enforcement powers of guns, jails, and taxes–to combat substance abuse, you sanction violence against the innocent.
Similarly, I support helping the poor, curing illness, artistic expression, exploring our world, building strong families, developing new technologies, and a clean environment. But I cannot support using government–institutionalized violence–to achieve these ends. Force or fraud can only be legitimately used for self-defense.
I am defending a marijuana grower against violence not because I have any attraction to marijuana, but because I cannot sanction violence against those who have done no harm to others. I hope to give the same defense to any other innocent who is threatened by violent acts, and I hope that there will be a neighbor willing to come to my defense if a law is ever written that threatens me.
…I cannot see someone who manufactures and distributes an illegal drug as an "innocent." I cannot agree that punishing someone for producing and distributing an illegal drug is "violence" against that individual.
Abuse of drugs — both legal and illegal — pose a clear and present threat to our society. Crystal meth abuse is reaching epidemic proportions in Southwestern Virginia. New studies show marijuana is more dangerous than previously believed. Last week, a Floyd County jury convicted a 19-year-old Henry County man of second degree murder after he shot and killed a Floyd County man that he called one of his best customers. He had been selling drugs — primarily in Floyd County — since he was 15. As a high school student he went to classes during the day and sold drugs at night — making up to $1500 a day in drug sales.
His drug of choice? Marijuana. He admitted exchanging crack for "that good Floyd County weed." He smoked grass regularly and he emptied a 357 magnum into a man in an argument over drugs.
I’m sorry but I cannot sit back and condone the manufacture of illegal drugs — any illegal drugs. I cannot sit back and keep quiet when people knowingly break drug laws simply because they think those laws are "stupid." Maybe I’ve seen too much of the damage that drugs do in our society. But I cannot look the other way simply because a drug dealer is a "nice guy" that a lot of people like. I see the real violence to our society being the wanton disregard for the law and public safety by someone who manufactures and distributes illegal drugs. In my opinion, harm was done to others the second he gave his product to someone else.
I appreciate you point of view but I cannot agree with it. I goes against my core belief in the dangers of drug abuse and my complete and unwavering contempt for anyone who manufactures and distributes such products.
Hi Jeff,
You and I might disagree with Doug on some issues, but he has been extremely tolerant in allowing us to challenge his views on what is, after all, a forum that he pays for and works to develop for our enjoyment.
I’ve thanked him for this privately, but I’d like to take this opportunity to do so publicly.
Thanks, Doug.
Jeff:
They say there is nothing more irritating than a recovering drunk, a reformed smoker or a born again Christian.
There was a period in my life where I believed rules applied only to others. I felt anything was permissable as long as I got away with it. I was wrong. What you see as self righteous is something I see as part of the maturing process. We disagree. It doesn’t make either of us right or wrong. It just means we hold different opinions.
I’ve been lucky in life. I’ve come back from the brink and am, I hope, a better man for it. I could just sit back and do nothing or I could try to use my life experiences to hopefully help ohers avoid a similar path or make the same mistakes. I made my choice and I will continue to live with that choice.
People are free to read what I write and agree or disagree. They are free to debate my views.
I live my life one day at a time. If something I do helps someone then it was worth it. If it doesn’t, I can go to my grave down the line knowing that I tried. That’s good enough for me.
I don’t know many who would be so open and honest about their battles with addiction. Doug should be congratulated for his candor and not castigated by a vocal minority who obviously have trouble dealing with someone brave enough to expose the dangers in our society.
How many here who talk so boldly about freedom and liberty volunteer their time to serve on the Alcohol Safety Action Program advisory board? How many here who claim to be speaking for the downtrodden spend hours every week counseling others with drug and alcohol abuse problems?
Just one. Our host. Bravo Doug. Keep it up.
What does serving for the Alcohol Safety Action Program have to do with freedom and liberty?
Nothing.
That’s fine that he tries to help people deal with addiction who want to be helped. That’s commendable in fact.
But that doesn’t make it OK to take away people’s civil liberties because of some ill defined notion of “justice” or “public safety.”
“vocal minority who obviously have trouble dealing with someone brave enough to expose the dangers in our society.”
What?! The danger in our society is people’s personal property and freedom being taken away senselessly.
The danger in our society is that so many non violent people fill our prisons. So much of our law enforcement’s time and money is wasted on “vice crime” instead of making sure there are no real violent crimes.
Do you know how many billions of dollars are wasted in the ridiculous “War on Drugs” every year? Drug prohibition is a failure. Just like alcohol prohibition was a failure in the 1920s. It’s time to accept that and move on.
Do you know how dangerous 1000 pot heads in Floyd are? Obviously they aren’t dangerous at all. They’ve been living here for years without causing any problems.
And finally, if you aren’t going to stand up for the rights of others, you won’t be able to expect them to stand up for your rights either.
“It just means we hold different opinions.”
The big difference is that you want other people to be put in prison for living a different lifestyle than you. That’s why your “opinion” is so dangerous to the people of this country. We don’t want our freedom taken away by puritans.
That’s why this country was formed in the first place, so we could be free from people telling us how to live our own private lives.
All I see you doing is shooting your mouth off with the same repetitive crap.
There are those who talk and those do. I’ll stick with those who do.
There are those who THINK and those who do not. I’ll stick with those who think.
Those who negatively respond to my points never respond to the individual points that I make. Why is that? Because they are irrefutable facts based on logic. If you can’t think logically and you don’t have facts to back up your point of view then there’s no point in trying to enter an argument in the first place.
And when exactly are you going to start thinking Mr. Jackson? So far all I see from you is mindless ranting.
Just as I said. You cannot respond to my individual points. You cannot respond to the facts. This is not a coherent argument that you are making. You are not making any point at all when you respond in this way. Don’t you understand that?
Do you drink alcohol? Do you believe alcohol is less dangerous than marijuana? If so, why do you believe that?
Questions. If you don’t have thoughtful answers then there’s no point in entering a debate.
Why haven’t you responded to those who wanted to know why you didn’t keep your world when you said you wouldn’t be coming here any longer?
I’m not even sure you represent the human race. If you, as you claim, feel you are wasting your time here then go away and stop wasting ours. Every time you post, you prove yourself not only to be an idiot but a liar.
Mr. Akers – Those who resort to personal insults have nothing intelligent to add to an argument.
I’m aware that I don’t represent the majority view of Floyd Countians. But so what? This country is not only about majority rule, it’s also about minority rights.
You’ve been insulting people from your first post on this issue. That makes you a hypocrite and a liar.
This has turned into a shouting match and I’ve turned moderation on to prevent it from getting any louder. I want everyone to take some time to cool off.
Jonny, you brought this on yourself but others here have also crossed the line. I’m going to let things cool down before any other posts are made public.
We are here to debate issues, not call each other names.