Thanks for all this David. Kenny and Melvin are 2 of my favorite downtown people to cross paths with. Inevitable quotable lines often result, as you note. Insight. I'd wondered if Lithium or some similar med had helped stabilize the young woman you reference. It's nice to see her consistently balanced and engaged. I'd love to see community conversations about the role of compassion in all this. Am I really helping a person who will use the money to get another fix? Is that compassion? Or perhaps an effort to avoid my own bad feelings of guilt or discomfort? I stopped giving my alcoholic sister money when I realized she was drinking it. Because I love her and didn't want to support bad choices that would lead her to more harm. It's hard to say no when we know the person is in pain. Unfortunately it's usually only pain that makes us want to change. Something the Buddha said a long time ago.
Thanks Paul. And that is a long discussion, as well as an issue I've been jugging/pondering for a while without coming down on any side except to follow my instincts 'cause every situation is different. I mean it's nice to hand someone a sleeping bag, train ticket, or an even a co-op gift certificate. But one way, or another, they are all coin that can be "cashed in" for drugs. I can tell you that in one of these essays I describe calling out a kid for taking the money for Suboxone and going right across the street to buy opioids. Virtually in front me. The next few times I saw him he'd just apologize again and not ask for money. He's actually on Methadone now and has made it 10 days. I can't take credit for having anything to with that of course, but—and it sounds a little "saccharine" to say—you and I both know that there's healing in making a personal connection with someone who's usually treated like more like an "issue" than a person. For both people.
"I’m still getting to the bottom of why homeless addicts have to pay for their Suboxone." Crazy! And why are those who are unhoused, ineligible for Medicare?
Thanks for all this David. Kenny and Melvin are 2 of my favorite downtown people to cross paths with. Inevitable quotable lines often result, as you note. Insight. I'd wondered if Lithium or some similar med had helped stabilize the young woman you reference. It's nice to see her consistently balanced and engaged. I'd love to see community conversations about the role of compassion in all this. Am I really helping a person who will use the money to get another fix? Is that compassion? Or perhaps an effort to avoid my own bad feelings of guilt or discomfort? I stopped giving my alcoholic sister money when I realized she was drinking it. Because I love her and didn't want to support bad choices that would lead her to more harm. It's hard to say no when we know the person is in pain. Unfortunately it's usually only pain that makes us want to change. Something the Buddha said a long time ago.
Thanks Paul. And that is a long discussion, as well as an issue I've been jugging/pondering for a while without coming down on any side except to follow my instincts 'cause every situation is different. I mean it's nice to hand someone a sleeping bag, train ticket, or an even a co-op gift certificate. But one way, or another, they are all coin that can be "cashed in" for drugs. I can tell you that in one of these essays I describe calling out a kid for taking the money for Suboxone and going right across the street to buy opioids. Virtually in front me. The next few times I saw him he'd just apologize again and not ask for money. He's actually on Methadone now and has made it 10 days. I can't take credit for having anything to with that of course, but—and it sounds a little "saccharine" to say—you and I both know that there's healing in making a personal connection with someone who's usually treated like more like an "issue" than a person. For both people.
"I’m still getting to the bottom of why homeless addicts have to pay for their Suboxone." Crazy! And why are those who are unhoused, ineligible for Medicare?