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Tweekerland Meth Speed Bumps
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Posts: 8745
Jan 2 09 7:34 PM
Speedfreak Emeritus
Well, hmm,
I was going to avoid this discussion, but alas, it has once again stirred me to make a few remarks, comments and FWIW, perhaps some opinions.
This topic, like so many others, gets recycled every so often, months, years and occasionally, more often.
I don't think that people who earn degrees, credentials, certification or other standards of recognition need to feel inferior to those who haven't.
I'm a bit reluctant to state the next part because it would easily provide fodder for unbidden back-handed insults. But I think I'm qualified and have earned my right to state opinions, and have paid my dues.
I shot my first hit of speed in 1968, long before many of you were born. I shot my last hit of speed on Sept. 14th 2001, four days after nine eleven. I am not one bit proud of my drug use or addiction. I am ashamed of myself for engaging in maladaptive behavior, selfish years of feeding my addictions, and becoming what I consider a loathsome, ignorant, ill-mannered embarrassment to my family, wife, children, and God. I acted very badly, committed crime, cheated, lied, and did many bad things. I am not one bit proud of any of them. The streets of San Francisco can be cold, mean, perverse, heartless, and nasty. Seriously, I cringe when I see someone brag about how low they went, how far down they pushed their personal bottom, or flaunt the depravity involved in the underground world of drugs, crime, debauchery, hurt and pain, and the endless array of pimps, pushers, and punks taking advantage of the weak, the ill-defended, the simple-minded, and defenseless victims of an unfortunate past.
FWIW, I also have the legitimate credentials. I have earned three college degrees including an M.A. in Education, two California Teaching Credentials, and a few years ago I went back to college for three more years to complete the coursework, test, internship and I am now certified with C.A.A.D.E. as a Certified Addictions Treatment Counselor. My objective in telling you this is so you know where I'm coming from.
So here's the premise: "Can a counselor be any good if s/he has never been an addict?"
The answer, IMHO, is yes. In a clinical setting, knowledge and education are preferable to experience.
"Does this mean that knowledge, degrees, and certification is all it takes?" Nope. It doesn't mean that at all. There are plenty of degreed, certified, and credentialed counselors who are pretty much worthless in their profession.
Also, there are some entry level counselors, without degrees or certification, enrolled in a drug and alcohol studies program, interns, who are great - because they have the personal experience and life skills to make them great.
Let us look at a few other professions. Until the most recent generations, almost all doctors, including OB/GYN doctors were male. They studied medicine, anatomy, physiology, and so many other things, for eight to ten years before earning the title M.D. But they never experienced a period, childbirth or menopause. They really didn't need to.
Many Catholic priests are superior in giving marriage advice - even though they have never experienced the same.
Here in San Francisco, we hosted one of the greatest NFL football teams of all time. When the 49er's Joe Montana threw a football to Jerry Rice it was magic. They were coached by Bill Walsh. Bill taught them how to win football Super Bowls. But Bill Walsh never, ever threw a football and never ever caught a football in the NFL. His personal experience in the matter = ZERO.
Other examples are many.
I'm not about to apologize for the hard work I've done, the hard work I still do every day, and my intentions for continuing the same.
This work is totally unglamorous, unrewarded, unthanked.
But it is honest, needed, and real.
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