Did you watch it? Harrowing wasn't it? If you missed it check out Sky listings they usually repeat loads of programmes.
It made me feel both sick and upsetting to watch Ben inject himself in the groin, to see his family suffering and to see Ben suffering the effects of heroin, 2 min's into the fix and then 20 minutes into the fix. This program should be watched by all young people to show them the effects of drugs on their lives and those around them.
Ben seemed such a nice person, well thought of and loved very much, but still he turned to drugs. In my experience of drug addicts, I have known a couple, even if they want to give up they can't. Once heroin has a hold on you the only way to stop is to die. It doesn't matter how many time you detox, visit hospital with infections you will carry on. This is exactly what happened to Ben.
Heroin is evil, Ben died of a brain hemorrhage when attending hospital to try and detox at the age of 34. Ben tried to detox several times and always returned to heroin. Half his life was spent taking drugs.
The programme was very moving, to watch unconditional love for a child even though he was an addict and caused problems at every family event - Christmas and birthdays all ended up with Ben issues. His father was devastated and could not bare to see Ben as this ill, dying, drug addict. His father even took Ben to by drugs.
I'm not sure how I would react to my child being involved in drugs and ending up like Ben - would I purchase drugs for my child? I'd say no now but when they are in so much pain , loosing it, manipulating every situation, pulling on our heart strings I know I would have to help ease the suffering.
Love the addict not the addiction.
Showing posts with label Addiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Addiction. Show all posts
Tuesday, 9 December 2008
Friday, 5 December 2008
BEN: DIARY OF A DRUG ADDICT
Sky One Monday 9pm"Extraordinarily powerful" Sunday Times.
Radio Times said this film is an "unrelentingly grim documentary which presents a horrific reality".
Time Out said "A bleak depiction of a heroin addicts death, as Sky1 makes a welcome foray into serious documentary making".
Filmmaker Olly Lambert’s unflinching film about the last two years of a 14 year heroin addiction.
I will be watching this documentary, I'm hoping to understand why a bright schoolboy from a loving, middle-class family raised in a quiet, picturesque village, he was a Boy Scout, loved cricket, played in the school orchestra and looked forward to the annual family holiday. But despite his privileged start in life Ben found himself on the road to ruin, injecting heroin up to four times a day.Can this film be a warning to others not yet on this path? Ben's film is being shown in schools in Stafford as a pilot scheme, lets see what happens in the future and whether this type of reality tv earns a place on the screen.
His mum said. “What I really wanted more than anything was to educate the authorities – the probation service, the police, the hospitals Ben went to,” she says. “Because I feel that heroin addicts don’t have any face in society. They’re counted as the lowest of the low.”
John - Homeless 2
John has been back from his journey to Birmingham for a few weeks now. He is staying with a friend sometimes and on the street other nights. His friend is also taking drugs and is an alcoholic. Staying with somebody in a similar situation isn't the best way to try to become clean.
He has a chance of staying at a more permanent place over Christmas, I hope this will happen soon, the nights are cold and worse weather is promised.
I'm not putting this down as a failure, that we as a church failed John in getting him treated and in a home. It has been a challenging experience and lessons have been learnt. Letting John stay in his tent, providing food and drink each day made John comfortable, condoned his drug and alcohol misuse. It's a dilemma, do you help or not. We are told to help, Matthew 25 35-40 tells us to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, provide a drink for the thirsty. Yet when you do this your not actually helping so this get's me thinking even more - How would Jesus actually help substance users?
Then the help arrived in the post, a newsletter from MCM with a two page spread on how Jesus would help drug users. I could have done with this a few weeks ago.
What is your image of a drug user? Someone injecting heroin or someone slipping a pill in their mouth.
Some stats for you;
40,000 people are addicted to "over the counter" drugs
250,000-300,000 problem drug users in England and Wales
Cocaine addiction has tripled in last 10 years
300,000 children have parents with serious drug problems
On average a heroin addict commits 432 crimes a year
40% of 16-24 year olds have used cannabis
In the UK 40,000 heroin users are taking methadone
So what would Jesus do and us do in turn?
Accept people for who they are, not what drug they use.
Work with drug and alcohol agencies.Be honest.
Set boundaries that you are comfortable with.
Cast your cares upon him, for he cares for you (1Peter 5:7)
Show John he is valued, support John in getting him to appointments, reminding him they are coming up, be open about expectations and perceptions, set boundaries on your time, money, possessions and relationships.
The work can be emotionally draining, the boundaries are there to protect you and help them.Pray tell God your needs with thankfulness.
I believe this is what I and Helen did and will keep doing. Just because John isn't staying in his tent doesn't mean he isn't supported.Another thing, the person also has to want to change and if they don't all you can do is keep doing the things above frustrating as it may be.
One day John will sort himself out....
He has a chance of staying at a more permanent place over Christmas, I hope this will happen soon, the nights are cold and worse weather is promised.
I'm not putting this down as a failure, that we as a church failed John in getting him treated and in a home. It has been a challenging experience and lessons have been learnt. Letting John stay in his tent, providing food and drink each day made John comfortable, condoned his drug and alcohol misuse. It's a dilemma, do you help or not. We are told to help, Matthew 25 35-40 tells us to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, provide a drink for the thirsty. Yet when you do this your not actually helping so this get's me thinking even more - How would Jesus actually help substance users?
Then the help arrived in the post, a newsletter from MCM with a two page spread on how Jesus would help drug users. I could have done with this a few weeks ago.
What is your image of a drug user? Someone injecting heroin or someone slipping a pill in their mouth.
Some stats for you;
40,000 people are addicted to "over the counter" drugs
250,000-300,000 problem drug users in England and Wales
Cocaine addiction has tripled in last 10 years
300,000 children have parents with serious drug problems
On average a heroin addict commits 432 crimes a year
40% of 16-24 year olds have used cannabis
In the UK 40,000 heroin users are taking methadone
So what would Jesus do and us do in turn?
Accept people for who they are, not what drug they use.
Work with drug and alcohol agencies.Be honest.
Set boundaries that you are comfortable with.
Cast your cares upon him, for he cares for you (1Peter 5:7)
Show John he is valued, support John in getting him to appointments, reminding him they are coming up, be open about expectations and perceptions, set boundaries on your time, money, possessions and relationships.
The work can be emotionally draining, the boundaries are there to protect you and help them.Pray tell God your needs with thankfulness.
I believe this is what I and Helen did and will keep doing. Just because John isn't staying in his tent doesn't mean he isn't supported.Another thing, the person also has to want to change and if they don't all you can do is keep doing the things above frustrating as it may be.
One day John will sort himself out....
Thursday, 4 December 2008
All Saints Shoebox Appeal
All Saints’ Christmas Shoebox Appeal for Homeless People
Please help by donating
Toiletries
(Deodorant, Shaving Gel, Soap, Flannels, Toothpaste, Toothbrushes etc)
Unisex Socks, Woolly Hats, Gloves & Scarves
Bars of Chocolate
Biscuits
Cup a Soups
Matthew 25 35-40
There are over 200 people homeless in our parish, not all are on the streets. If you are under 16 the council has a duty to provide accomodation however if your are between 17 and 100 male or female you do not qualify for help. There are no facilities for these people to find a nights peace and warmth anywhere in Trafford. It may not be much but the little we can do is very much appreciated.
Saturday, 15 November 2008
John - Homeless 1
Over the last 6/7 weeks we have had a challenging time dealing with a homeless person who decided to erect a campsite in the ground of our church.
To bring you up to date.....
His name is John. John pitched his tent at the back of church because he had connections in our parish. His sister lived across the road. John has been homeless for approximately 15 years and has drug and alcohol misuse issues. He isn't very healthy. It has been challenging because as a Christian you have an urge to help this person, to provide food and a warm drink. Reverend Helen and myself provided for him, we also kept him up to date with his probation officer and appts at the doctors. John's story was very said, he had a family and was part of the community teaching youngsters Kick Boxing then it all went pear shaped and he chose the wrong path. He has told us he is ready to change and sort his life out. I, we believed him and wanted to help him succeed. What John was good at is telling us what we needed to hear, playing each of us off one another, the drugs agency, probation, Reverend Helen, his sister.
Then a ray of hope, The Edge (Drugs) found John a place at Betel of Britain a Christian form of rehab in Birmingham. John's sister took him and got him settled in. 24hrs later and he was back in Manchester. In the mean time I had took his tent down.
John wasn't ready for cold turkey, he just isn't desperate enough to go through that sort of treatment. John set up camp again behaind church, we had told the congregation he had gone to rehab much to their relief and now he was back.
A couple of weeks has past now and I'm not sure what can be done, John doesn't seem to want to help himself, he doesn't attend his appointments with the people who can provide for him. I pray for God to intervene and sort out this problem. I actually wondered why John was sent to our Church and now I think I know why. It's not neccessarily to help John but to highlight what seems to be a growing problem in our area, homelessness, drugs and alcohol.
To bring you up to date.....
His name is John. John pitched his tent at the back of church because he had connections in our parish. His sister lived across the road. John has been homeless for approximately 15 years and has drug and alcohol misuse issues. He isn't very healthy. It has been challenging because as a Christian you have an urge to help this person, to provide food and a warm drink. Reverend Helen and myself provided for him, we also kept him up to date with his probation officer and appts at the doctors. John's story was very said, he had a family and was part of the community teaching youngsters Kick Boxing then it all went pear shaped and he chose the wrong path. He has told us he is ready to change and sort his life out. I, we believed him and wanted to help him succeed. What John was good at is telling us what we needed to hear, playing each of us off one another, the drugs agency, probation, Reverend Helen, his sister.
Then a ray of hope, The Edge (Drugs) found John a place at Betel of Britain a Christian form of rehab in Birmingham. John's sister took him and got him settled in. 24hrs later and he was back in Manchester. In the mean time I had took his tent down.
John wasn't ready for cold turkey, he just isn't desperate enough to go through that sort of treatment. John set up camp again behaind church, we had told the congregation he had gone to rehab much to their relief and now he was back.
A couple of weeks has past now and I'm not sure what can be done, John doesn't seem to want to help himself, he doesn't attend his appointments with the people who can provide for him. I pray for God to intervene and sort out this problem. I actually wondered why John was sent to our Church and now I think I know why. It's not neccessarily to help John but to highlight what seems to be a growing problem in our area, homelessness, drugs and alcohol.
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