Page 1116 - 1970S

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about how "stupid" they were; how
they lacked character, responsibility, and
training; how they were "emotionally 5
years old."
But surprisingly, those same former
addicts are now quite responsible
human beings. T hey are "rebuilt
people" who have learned simple char–
acter for the first time. "Ordinarily a
person spends from the age of one to
21 becoming adult," said ex-addict
Gary Gutierre. "WE have to do the
whole thing over again."
Efren Ramirez, New York's Addic–
tion Services Agency Commissioner,
labels the cause of drug addiction as "A
fundamental but treatable character dis–
order ... a weak sense of responsibil–
ity." He has a method for treating this
disorder which may seem brutal, but it
works ( only 7 of his first 124 addicts
went back to drugs within 3 y2 years).
"For nine or ten months," wrote Rami–
rez, "the addict is relentlessly con–
frontcd, day in and day ·out, with his
own character faults." This method is
very similar to the Synanon "game"
(see the accompanying photo article
on "Synanon").
Such character training starts on the
ground floor. This. means personal
deanliness, being on time, working
hard at "dirty work," and re-Iearning
grade school arithmetic or high school
reading. "We address ourselves to the
real problem - growing up," said a
Phoenix House director. "Then the side
effect - the drug taking - goes
away."
Such programs go about the much–
needed business of giving an addict an
altemative t;festyle - and teaching him
how to live in it. "If a dope fiend just
stops using drugs," said Gutierre, "he is
stiU a desperate human being. He won't
automatically become principled and
constructive when the drug is with–
drawn." That's where the character
training, work programs, education, and
lifestyle come in.
But there is one additional ingredient
holding back most addicts from such
change.
The Necessary Motivatioa
Where is the motivation to take the
first step?
Most successful ex-addicts admit they
The PLAIN TRUTH
were first motivated totally by personal
greed - a desire to get food, gel
warmth and clothes, or to get help to
shake their habit. Many intended to go
right back on the street after shaking the
habit and getting hot meals.
But that's where the example of fel–
Jow addicts comes in. The newly "clean"
addict looks around him and sees his
old "ex-dope fiend" friends. They are
dean, happy, busy and concerned with
giving. The first glimmer of the "way of
giving" motivates the addict to stay and
try this lifestyle. After a few years, the
addict learns the truth of the statement
- though he is usually not religious –
that it is "more blessed to give than to
receive." He gets more by giving, and
he likes it.
Sorne ex-addicts were not motivatcd
as much by the example of others as by
a personal experience, usually religious.
Members of religious groups as varied
11 We address ourselves to
the real problem- grow–
ing up. Then the s ide
effed - the drug - goes
away/'
- Phoen ix House director
as the Black Muslims and the Jesus
People have kicked drugs permanently.
A mental or spiritual substitute for
drugs is an effective motivation for
guitting dmgs. Even those with awak–
ened political convictions have been
motivated to shake drugs. Malcolm X
used both political and religious moti–
vation to shake drugs while in prison.
One may guestion the particular reli–
gious or política! convictions involved,
but one cannot dis~egard the fact of
personal motivation. The addict desper–
ately desires to kick the habit. Given a
motivation, he is able. (It is, of
course, much better to have the ,•ight
motivation.)
One of the foremost European ex–
perts on dmg addiction, Paris psy–
chiatrist Pierre Bensoussan, explained,
"We have to give [addicts] an activity
in Iife. 1 don't mean basketball. J mean
spiritttal activity."
Whether a religious, social, política!,
oc personal motivation, the common
deoominator of successfully reformed
addicts is some kind of "missionary
February 1972
zeal" in Jife - the same kind of zeal
and ingenuity they formerly used as
criminals in trying to get drugs.
Tbe T unnel Back
Drug use is a symptom of a sick soci–
ety, a broken family, and moral bank–
ruptcy. Many unfortunate slum children
are doomed to a life of addiction until
those causes change.
Drug addiction may not be com–
pletely solved until the entire society
changes. The full solution to dmg ad–
diction is a new society - a world
around us that will not need to be "es–
caped" through drugs, a land too excit–
ing to be purposefully obliterated by an
artificial "trip" anywhere.
But mankind has shown it is inca–
pable or, at best, painfully slow in
bringing about social improvement. We
must not wait for social change before
we change our oum lives. lndividt~als
within a sick society can change lheil'
individf(a/ lives. That has already been
proveo thousands of times over.
Parents, you can act now to prevent
any future addiction to drugs by your
children. A strong aad loving family
unit - even if one parent is absent -
can be a binding force in drug pre–
vention. A proper, uplifting home envi–
ronment, coupled with constmctive
friends and an uplifting neighborhood
environment, are unbeatable insurance
against dangerous drugs.
Early character training is also vital if
your chi ld is to make right decisions if
and when he is conf ronted with drugs.
Remember, angry sermons don't work
- they're too little too late, and only
serve to alienate. But the preventive
medicine of !ove, understanding, and
meaningful activitism works!
Young people: If you take dmgs oc
have contemplated doing so, do yourself
the favor of gettiag involved in more
fulfilling activities. Drugs are a one-way
road to disaster, with the only road back
being a narrow tunnel, with unexpected
dangers all around.
Chances are this article will not reach
many currently addicted heroin users.
But if potential addicts never start, and
if sorne of you parents have a part in
helping them live a better Jifestyle, then
this article will have fulfilled its pur–
pose. O