LESSONS IN ADDICTION

**** I left Medina forty years ago but I learned all I needed to know about addiction before I split . I learned about alcohol & drug addiction . This is saying something because drug addiction was rare before 1970.

A lot of men around Medina enjoyed a drink from time to time & a few could be called problem drinkers . But the title of top drunk belonged to Gregory Hollister .

Most men over 21 carried the title of Mister but not Gregory . He had drank away all respect & esteem . I often wondered how a person could lose control like that . To be mastered by a bottle .

A wonderful family in town used to take Gregory in & get him dried out for a while . But they couldn't hold him , the call of the booze was too strong . I have seen Gregory drink after shave lotion & shoe polish when he couldn't get anything else . How can a man get that far ?

The story was that Gregory was a great guitar player . He even had a gig playing for Johnny Cash . Gregory would get drunk & miss dates ,so Cash had to let him go .

Gregory was drunk one cold night ,walking across a field on his way home . He fell ,went to sleep ,& froze to death during the night . They found him there the next day .

I learned that alcohol can wreck a life . A drink could have a powerful grip .

How did I learn about drug addiction in the mid-sixties ? We had a drug addict in town . They called addicts dope fiends back then .

Mr. David Perry was a member of a powerful prominent local family . Mr Perry had an accident & while recovering became addicted to morphine.

This was the beginning of a decades long horror show . The Perry family had enough resources to try every treatment center known at the time . Nothing worked . I knew then addiction was serious business .

Mr. Perry made the most profound statement about drugs that I have ever heard . In front of the barber shop , some men were asking Mr. Perry about his struggle & some of the treatments he had undergone .

Mr . Perry said " They can get it out of my body but they can't get it out of my mind ." WOW , that says it all .

All of us struggle with our personal demons & addictions . It could be drugs ,alcohol, money, fame ,power , or sex . No matter which , it is an awful place to be . In 32 years of working with addicts I have seen less than 10 beat the addiction .

Only through the power of Jesus can you overcome your demons . A 12 step program is fine but to be successful that first step has to be Jesus.

**** My prayers to an old friend Jane Mills Price in the loss of her husband Tommy . May Jesus give you comfort & peace, Jane .

THANK YOU FOR READING !!!