"I am 60 years old and have been lucky enough to see some change in this world. I would not say it is all for the best, however in the world of addiction there have been many changes for the best. Imagine the eighties a time when most of the world thought that the cure was to just say no!! Pretty simple solution. Well, that is the world that I grew up in and to be honest I could not understand why my youngest brother and a few of my friends could not just do that. I am a very strong-minded man; I can fix just about anything, but I could not Fix me.

I am not a writer I am a construction worker; a father and a human being so please forgive any clerical errors. I never imagined I would become an addict. I have always been so strong minded and driven to accomplish any goal I set for myself and or others. If I told you I would build you a house on top of a telephone pole I would do it, one way or another. Failure was not in my vocabulary. I had played with various drugs looking for Euphoria, but never could I have imagined that anything in this world that could make you feel so good could make you feel so bad if you did not have it. I was ignorant to the facts. Please remember early eighties Just say no!!

There were not a lot of options the first time I got what they call strung out. OMG Detox methadone, first day you receive three ten milligram pills, second day two pills, third day one pill they monitor your vitals, if your good you go home on the fifth day. I felt great I am never touching that stuff again. Wrong my little forget me mechanism erases all bad and only remembers the nice feeling I once had from the opiates. However almost instantly I feel like shit. I catch what they call rectaloctalites this is the disease. It connects the eyeball to the asshole and gives me a shitty outlook on life.

Once again, I am strung out and cannot figure out how to use safely. There is no safely for me. I am not able to use just once in a while, I am an addict. I spent many years struggling, some in rehabs, detoxes, jails prisons and many meetings along the way. No matter where I went the evil little beast of addiction has gone with me.

About ten/twelve years ago I went to a detox down in Albany New York they detoxed me on Suboxone. I reached out to a local Dr who was educated on addiction and he prescribed me Suboxone, Upon retiring he referred me to Dr. Russo who has a compassion for helping people like me and sees me like I am human and not less than. She like me has seen the damage done. I have lost a lot of friends to this disease. I have watched people that have no Idea what addiction is like run their mouth like the just say no solution would or could work.

Ignorance is the lack of Knowledge in one area or another it does not mean one is stupid.

Before I open my mouth and present an answer to someone, I make sure I know what I am talking about. Sometimes I need to think before I respond, sometimes I may need to research and respond at a later date.

Addiction is a disease; this disease takes control over you. The sickness that comes from withdrawal.Is like the worst flue could imagine x 1000 . It takes away all your morals, values and spiritual well-being. Suboxone and Dr. Russo have given me back all of my life with no desire to ever use again. Some may say this a crutch others may say whatever they wish. I myself have had no desire to use and know many others that feel the same way. If this is the cane I need to help me keep my life on track, then I am grateful for Dr. Russo and the program she is running. I am in great hope that other doctors will do the research and climb on board in helping addicts around the world."

— Bruce