Mind blowing (yet not). I don't know how I stumbled upon you - but I am glad I did Bridget. I had to go back and find the story. #1 - my heart breaks for you, your son, your family. I am glad you are writing (and btw, you are a very good, impassioned writer). My youngest son, 30, spends his days, working alongside the F.D. in San Francisco, mitigating calls for help with homeless/drug addicts, you name it. He left a "controlled" government sponsored "home environment, after four years, " with up to 15 "clients"/patients that essentially went nowhere after completing two years -- Some, ready for the hope of a new life and let down by our system, after filing reams of required paperwork -- if only to end up in a bed out in the middle of the central valley with an old couple. Now he's on the outside. I can't agree with you more and agree that something has to change. My best friend has a near 30 year old son with severe and chronic o.c.d. She can no longer get him into a rehab (when it's off the charts about once a year) unless "he's on drugs or alcohol as well." The system has looped mental health together with addiction -- full stop. She has exhausted herself. So he sits two years with a headset on, because he thinks he can't hear. He is not a substance abuser nor drinks alcohol. He is on meds obviously -- but she clearly wants rehab for him. There is nothing.
And the corrupt prison guards bringing in hard drugs to prisoners. Government corruption as old as the day. God Bless you. I pray everyday for things to change. ox
Thank you for speaking up and jumping in here with your story. There are so many, many people 'justice' impacted and we have to be brave enough to call it what it is. I'm honored to have you here, to have you sharing my words. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
I’m so glad you are speaking out and getting your story down — and also exposing the system. Thank you for your honesty. I know none of this is easy. I can feel your anguish as a mother, and the love you have for your son and family. ox
Bridg, Keep reading, keep researching, keep writing! I have sobbed over the Innocence stories in John Grisham and Jim McKloskey’s book “Framed”. There are hundreds if not thousands of these stories,,,, they must be told! Thank you for sharing from the bottom of your heart - I know the pain from my angle not yours 🥲 Praying since day one for our boy to come home! 💙
Superbly written and all your posts should be mandatory reading in local, county and state police departments and government offices, schools, etc…. The entire population is affected and needs to be educated!!!
WOWWWW!!! I did not mean to research drug addiction this morning. I somehow landed here from Notes, maybe. I don’t remember the Substack path that led me here, but I just journeyed through every word of your riveting real life story. WOW! I wrote down all of the books and will check them out. I know nothing about the world you’ve introduced me to, but am startled daily, in my new Seattle location, by screaming men in the park and on the streets. I’ll be back to your publication as you draw the curtain back for us all. Meanwhile, it’s time to pace and walk and take in everything you just taught me. As painful as your story is to write, thank you for speaking truth.
Hey there. I am so glad you have connected, however the magic brought us together. Take your time here, it is heavy. Thank you for being a beautifully open soul who can pace and walk and hear hard truths. I'm happy to 'know' you.
It’s maddening how addicts are treated in this country. Are we still operating in the era of “pull yourself up by your bootstraps?” I thought there was reform of the Reagan era War on Drugs laws?
We have come a long way in understanding addiction but it has not, unfortunately, translated to sentencing guidelines nor prison system change. We're still steeped in the old punishment paradigm.
Thank you for reading, and for sharing with others who might need to know they're not alone. 🖤
Mind blowing (yet not). I don't know how I stumbled upon you - but I am glad I did Bridget. I had to go back and find the story. #1 - my heart breaks for you, your son, your family. I am glad you are writing (and btw, you are a very good, impassioned writer). My youngest son, 30, spends his days, working alongside the F.D. in San Francisco, mitigating calls for help with homeless/drug addicts, you name it. He left a "controlled" government sponsored "home environment, after four years, " with up to 15 "clients"/patients that essentially went nowhere after completing two years -- Some, ready for the hope of a new life and let down by our system, after filing reams of required paperwork -- if only to end up in a bed out in the middle of the central valley with an old couple. Now he's on the outside. I can't agree with you more and agree that something has to change. My best friend has a near 30 year old son with severe and chronic o.c.d. She can no longer get him into a rehab (when it's off the charts about once a year) unless "he's on drugs or alcohol as well." The system has looped mental health together with addiction -- full stop. She has exhausted herself. So he sits two years with a headset on, because he thinks he can't hear. He is not a substance abuser nor drinks alcohol. He is on meds obviously -- but she clearly wants rehab for him. There is nothing.
And the corrupt prison guards bringing in hard drugs to prisoners. Government corruption as old as the day. God Bless you. I pray everyday for things to change. ox
Thank you for speaking up and jumping in here with your story. There are so many, many people 'justice' impacted and we have to be brave enough to call it what it is. I'm honored to have you here, to have you sharing my words. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
I’m so glad you are speaking out and getting your story down — and also exposing the system. Thank you for your honesty. I know none of this is easy. I can feel your anguish as a mother, and the love you have for your son and family. ox
Bridg, Keep reading, keep researching, keep writing! I have sobbed over the Innocence stories in John Grisham and Jim McKloskey’s book “Framed”. There are hundreds if not thousands of these stories,,,, they must be told! Thank you for sharing from the bottom of your heart - I know the pain from my angle not yours 🥲 Praying since day one for our boy to come home! 💙
That book, and the Wrongful Conviction podcast, has broken my heart and rearranged my thinking on our "justice" system. It's "Just A System."
Perfectly said Mom! Keep going Bridget! And I’ll continue to pray every day. 🙏
Superbly written and all your posts should be mandatory reading in local, county and state police departments and government offices, schools, etc…. The entire population is affected and needs to be educated!!!
I do so appreciate this. The truth must be told. 🖤
WOWWWW!!! I did not mean to research drug addiction this morning. I somehow landed here from Notes, maybe. I don’t remember the Substack path that led me here, but I just journeyed through every word of your riveting real life story. WOW! I wrote down all of the books and will check them out. I know nothing about the world you’ve introduced me to, but am startled daily, in my new Seattle location, by screaming men in the park and on the streets. I’ll be back to your publication as you draw the curtain back for us all. Meanwhile, it’s time to pace and walk and take in everything you just taught me. As painful as your story is to write, thank you for speaking truth.
Hey there. I am so glad you have connected, however the magic brought us together. Take your time here, it is heavy. Thank you for being a beautifully open soul who can pace and walk and hear hard truths. I'm happy to 'know' you.
It’s maddening how addicts are treated in this country. Are we still operating in the era of “pull yourself up by your bootstraps?” I thought there was reform of the Reagan era War on Drugs laws?
We have come a long way in understanding addiction but it has not, unfortunately, translated to sentencing guidelines nor prison system change. We're still steeped in the old punishment paradigm.