Every Story I Read – This is not a real excerpt from a news source. I was going to do yet another post about people getting arrested for drugs on Cape Cod and being all around idiots. Then I realized something. Maybe I should write this one from a different angle.
Another post about how everyone is on drugs? Nope. I am sick of writing about this shit.
Cape Cod is a hotbed for heroin? Everyone on The Cape is addicted?
Well where is it all? To read the news you’d think everyone here is strung out.
But I look out my window and I hear birds chirping. I see people laughing. Sunsets setting. If drugs define us then I don’t know us.
It seems like bad news is the only news these days. What about the rest of it?
What about the beautiful lady who smiled at me at the store today? What about the dude who held the door for me and said that it was “his pleasure”? Where is that guy’s headline?
Oh I forgot, they are all addicted to something.
Why do we talk about the fuck ups everyday? They aren’t at dinner with us. They aren’t picking up your kids from school because you had to work late, but someone did, and they weren’t on drugs.
But we should be talking about them you say? These addicts. They are our brothers and our sisters.
We should love them. Help them. The Real Cape is about not judging them and doing the best we can for them.
That’s cool. I dig that.
But if we are going to do that, then let’s do it for everyone. I hate that news is always bad news, and I realized I’m part of the problem. So this post isn’t going to be about all the problems on The Cape. This post isn’t for the douche bags.
This post is for the girl that had to decide between food and heat because she fell in love with one of them and thought he’d stick around.
This post is for the guy that quietly takes care of his family and another family because someone else won’t.
This post is for the teacher that takes an extra minute with some kid because nobody else will.
This post is for the coach that works with a kid after practice because he sees something in him.
This post is for the kid that told his friends to lay off another kid they were giving shit to because he could tell he’d had enough.
This post is for the police officer that gave a kid a ride home instead of ruining his life.
This post is for the town selectman that voted for a teen center.
This post is for the people that never get posts written about them.
This post is for the good people.
This post is for you.
The Real Cape.
Facebook: The Real CapeTwitter: Hippie - Insane Tony
I’m glad you are writing about people us people who do not have a drug problem. I personally do not need recognition from anyone because I’m a hard working, law abiding citzen. I do not want articles written about me or any spotlight on me for doing what should be done. These individuals have serious problems. They suffer with addiction. They are dying every day. These addicts didnot wake up with the intent of being a drug addict one day, it happens over time. This is not only an issue on the Cape, this is a nation wide epidemic. I’m sure you know what an epidemic is. These addicts are the ones causing the problems and breaking the laws. Heroin is the root of many crimes committed and these are obviously going to make the news. Do you expect to see a picture on the front page of the paper of an individual holding the door for someone because that’s what you should do? Or do you expect to see a picture of your neighbors house that was robbed by heroin addicts and an article about how we need to do something about this epidemic. I do not use drugs and I never will. Those who are using drugs aren’t going to fix the problem so it’s up to us to protect our families and our children by doing something about this problem.
Billy–very well written commentary on the posting.
Addiction, in ANY form is an insidious disease; it can strike ANYONE at ANY age; I have personally seen “white haired little old ladies” (a cliché to be sure, but sadly, accurate, with the numbers of those 50-80 growing exponentially) who become dependent and then addicted to everything from anti-anxiety medication to painkillers…and believe me, it isn’t a pretty sight when they (or anyone) goes through withdrawal. In fact, in my opinion, as someone who has worked with both recovering addicts and those still in the throes of active addiction, it is FEAR of the horrors that come with withdrawal that keeps many addicts using or giving up before they have truly detoxed. (Withdrawal from heroin, for example can cause/include everything from severe gastro -intestinal issues (uncontrollable diarrhea for WEEKS, sweats, vomiting, insomnia for months, etc).
I also believe a lack of knowledge of local detox/rehabilitation programs/services and their treatment protocols is also an issue (for example, some programs offer “comfort medications” to ease early withdrawal symptoms; Habit Opco, an opiate treatment facility has SHORT and LONG TERM withdrawal programs using methadone–which while some people do NOT like the idea of trading one opiate for another, has been seen/proven to work very well for many addicts who have tried “everything” to “get clean” without success).
You are lucky to “never have used drugs”….–(I assume you mean alcohol too, since alcohol is a drug). I hope this is true for your whole life. Sadly, I also know MANY addicts who NEVER touched a drink/drug until they were well over 25; addiction CAN happen to anyone at any time in their life for a number of reasons–pain control turning to dependency and then to addiction is the MOST common cause in post-adolescent addiction.
I volunteer my time with local social service agencies (and also receive referrals from friends, relatives, and school administration/teachers) in order to provide parents/community members with free and 100% confidential assistance wading through the morass of benefits programs and local resources they might qualify for. Many times these “help sessions” turn out to have underlying issues of substance abuse, either within the family unit (parents and/or children) or involving someone close to the family. I think most people would be AMAZED if they knew/realized how many addicts they think they think they know well; not to mention how many substance abusers each of us interacts with on a daily basis (“working” addicts–those who hold down a job and appear to be “fine”!!
We all deserve the best life has to offer, addicts and non-addicts alike. I hope in my lifetime the STIGMA attached to mental health/substance abuse issues is erased so that those in pain/in need of help/treatment need not suffer because they are too “embarrassed” or “ashamed” to seek help for themselves or a family member.
So, since YOU ended your posting saying it was up to US to help the sick and suffering addict, what are YOU going to do to help?
PEACE=LOVE=UNDERSTANDING
Great post.
I can’t tell you how happy I was to flee the Cape almost 10 years ago. I now live in a healthy environment in California and in hindsight, Cape Cod specifically in the Winter time is certainly news worthy for the horific drug and alcohol abuse and the constant depression and lack of overall health that just seems to go hand in hand with it. I was SO sick of hearing the whining and complaining, yet zero motivation or action. In comparison to the life I now know, this lazy, depressed lifestyle is an absolute epidemic on the Cape. Yes. There are decent, motivated people there, but it isn’t the norm and I was born and raised there. GET OFF THE CAPE.
The opiate addiction rate has gone up 800% in Southeastern, MA is the last 10 years. It’s an epidemic.My son is a recovering addict with six years clean and sober. He left the Cape in order to change his life. I for one it is in the news all the time because it’s too easy to sweep addiction under the carpet.
Couldn’t agree more
My names Kyle and I’m a 26 year old recovering addict I’ve been everywhere to run from this it doesn’t matter where u are ur not exempt. And I can’t lie I’m sick of seeing all the bad stuff us addicts do on tv ( just to let u know that’s not even close to it all) what they need to show is the 18 year olds that are home less because they know no other way or the 20 something year old couples that overdose together because they thought they could do it one more time. You law abiding citizens have no idea what it’s like to cry because u don’t want to get high but u can’t stop. So instead of hurting an addict go help one by a kid a coffee and show him life doesn’t have to be like that.
Since when does drug use stop the sun from rising and the birds from chirping. I get the point of your post (rant), that there are good people who go under the radar everyday. So do some real reporting on those people. Don’t hide an issue in an article, write an article about that issue. The Cape does need help, but so does the rest of the country. Report on the good things, and get people involved in those things. Being another talking head doesn’t help anybody. Use your passion and be an acting body.