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Police Lt. Henry Boggs – said upon further investigation, police searched Ravan’s home and seized another gallon of GHB and illegal steroids.

Billy Mays’

The school of thought, is that the cocaine used only served to aggrevate his heart condition ultimately killing him. There is a great divide among popular opinion, many feel that since cocaine is washed out of the system within 24 -hours it could have not caused the heart attack., in order for this to have happened – he must have used cocaine that very day.

St. Pierre, Executive of NORML (The National Organization For The Reform of Marijuana Laws) feels that the more productive issue here deals with Employees, Insurance agencies, Hospitals, and Employers., let’s cut straight to the dollars and cents of the issue. As a tool for saving money and increasing a patients state of well being, medical marijuana should be part of the array of choices doctors, patients, and employers explore.

Advocates of Marijuana legalization champion it as an effective medicine with far ranging benefits such as treating Weight loss, Nausea, Pain, Spasticity, symptoms associated with cancer, AIDS, Cerebal Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, and Arthritis. In addition it has proven to be a cost effective alternative to other pharmaceuticals.

St. Pierre says it’s the hope of advocates that reimbursing patients who use medical marijuana, could help eliminate their use of more costly and potentially addictive drugs. For employers, as payers of health care., if only considered a money saving tool – medical marijuana could very well be a solution.

The year long investigation Code name “Operation Eliminacion” was spear-headed by the New York Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Strike Force, DEA in Connecticut and New Jersey, and the Colombian National Police, ANTIN Heroin Task Force.

The strategies employed during this covert mission utilized over 40 court ordered wiretaps in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Colombia. The spoils of this investigation yielded, numerous drug presses, Narcotic Trafficking Paraphernalia, and on several occasions sizable amounts of heroin with a total street value of approximately $24 Million.

The ”crème de la crème” revealed during this investigation, was the method these two men used to transport the drugs from colombia to the United states, through Panama & Guatemala – Kidney Beans. The Heroin was Concealed inside packages of Kidney Beans, which were then resealed intheir original Cellophane wrappers.

Since pain can’t be measured, it can be almost imppossible to figure out with absolute certainty whether the patients Opiate Needs are legitimate or simply just a ruse - intended to feed an addiction. This conundrum has caused many doctors to become scene as villians, victims of the under/over opiate prescription dilemma.

The question remains are these “Clinics” a beacon of hope for the drug afflicted or are they just leagal drug pushers parading as lambs in wolves clothing? Are they delebrately marketing to addicts to keep us hooked, while at they same lining their pockets with obscene profits as a result of our addiction?

Many of these drug facilities have gotten so bold and casual about the issue, that they even offer 50% of discounts, Opiate dispensing on premises( really what does this mean – think about it, If an addict or a dealer walks in with a fist full of cash, you mean to tell me that these clinics can’t be persuaded to sell those pills?).

Many of these so-called “clinics” often advertise that they are Board Certified, which board (Card board box certified). As a Marketer, I know this is done intentionally to build trust, so the general public will feel they are “Safe” and here to “Help”.

Now, I’m not here to knock legitmate institutions – they do exist. However, from personal experience I know the dangers of such unregulated clinics…in October 2006, I lost a great friend to a “Walk-ins Welcomed” come as you are without a prescription type of outfit; that was only interested in making a quick and “bloody buck”.  In my opinion these facilities need to under go more strict regulations…Just my thoughts.

Thenablog and narcotics anonymous(NA) wants to hear your thoughts…”Here your opinions are very welcomed.”

Yours Truely,

Ron Kerrionian

Proud Advocate for:

Thenablog, Social recovery, The AA Blog, In recovery and the entire recovery community.

Ah! I remeber it like it was yesterday – in fact it was yesterday! I completely hit rock bottom… I experienced what every addict dreads; I ran out of crack, yet I still had a hunger for the HIGH. If you’ve ever been there you know how that went, I started the “World Famous” crack search, which spanned the entire 500 feet of my apartment… Yo see in my extreme state of crack induced paranoia I often hide pieces of rock from myself or from the imaginary police outside, who I think are shinning lights outside my doors and are ready to arrest me at any moment (How in the world they know I’m in my room sucking on that crack pipe, I just don’t know but they’re out there… I think).

I started rummaging through the cabinets, the drawers, on top of the fridge – there I am on all fours scouring the carpets inch by inch, Like a CSI Miami detective in search of a clue. Finally “Victory” I found what I’ve been looking for – A piece of much welcomed Crack, my mouth began to water…I had to have it. You’ve heard of the “New York Minute”, well I smoked this fucking Rock in what I affectionately call the “Crack Addict Minute” – Holy shit you know what, it was fucking piece of Mozzerella Cheese.

In recovery and all the literature and the blogs, NABlog, AABlog, just to mention a few states that there is a time in every addicts life when they hit that point (BIG or Small) where there is just no going any further – they have a choice to either stay there and die or get up get help and live, this was my moment. I knew I needed some goddamn help, because if I could smoke a friggin milk product, what esle could I end up smoking – the sky’s the limit and I didn’t want to find out.

I wrote this letter over six months ago to my “Guide” what I affectionately refer to my Narcotics Anonymous (NA) sponsor. It was one of his requirements, that I have a personal journal to blatantly document everthing that was occuring in my life – even the relapses. He reffered to is as a “How to” manual, because each entry explains and examines how the desire to use came on, and how I can use that information to not use.

It was difficult at first; you see on a fresh high I had problems writing my own name much less writing a coherent sentence. The following day after the crack left my system, I started writing it felt strange, but good… It was nice to be completely honest wuth my own feelings. I wrote a page a day – and in the process saved my life one day at a time. I haven’t looked back since, and each day I thank my personal “Guide”.

This is Ron Kerronian,

Thanks for letting me share.

As part of the ongoing controversy, Pennsylvania is now among the states seeking to approve Medical Marijuana use.  Pennsylvania politician Mark Cohen of Philadelphia recently introduced a piece of legislation that would allow small amounts of marijuana to be legally purchased and used for medical purposes.

The timesonline.com reported in an article that: “he (Cohen) introduced the bill because it seemed, after talking to people, that marijuana had a legitimate use in easing the pain and suffering of patients diagnosed with life-threatening or painful illnesses.”  They also reported that the issue may take special precedence for Cohen as his own father passed away four years ago from disease and glaucoma, both of which may have been treated with medical marijuana.

Nonetheless, many legislators across the US agree that the medical marijuana issue can be a slippery slope.  Take California for example.  Originally, the state passed legislation for medical marijuana, and within just a few years of its approval and implementation, marijuana was being considered for general legalization as it could be an easy way to collect more state taxes.

A “New Comer” recently sent me this essay because he wanted to share his experience. I promised I would publish it but also told him that I would comment on the essay as well. Anyway, below are “His” (anonymous) thoughts and below that are my own. I hope this helps any New Comer to NA Meetings.

New Comer to NA: 1st Meeting Experience

Hey Editor of the NA Blog. I wanted to share this story with you and hopefully get some feed back. I attended my first NA meeting the other day and had mixed emotions about my experience. I went because I really want to quit using. This time it’s really for me. Not like all the other times. Anyway, all these guys were old schoolers with like 10 or 20 years clean, and they mostly just talked about there wives and family and money and stuff, and not there recovery or addiction. Also, the meeting was totally disorganized. There were people joking and laughing while the speaker was talking, etc. You know there were some incredible moments, but mostly what seemed like boring conversations between old buddies. I’m not sure what to do. I don’t know if I want to go back. Let me know if there is anything you can suggest.

- Anonymous

Well, first off, thanks for sharing. A New Comer’s first experience can be very rough. It seems like that is your case. However, I would not suggest that you throw in the towel just yet. Please remember, there are usually dozens of NA groups within close proximity to each other, all with different agendas, that anyone seeking the NA fellowship can attend. For example, just in my area, there are all of the following groups, each with a different focus: “Step 1-2-3 Ongoing; Beginners; Meditation; Youth Oriented; Women Preferred; Basic Text Study;” so forth and so on. I encourage you to seek out the full schedule of NA meetings and maybe try attending some other groups. Every recovery experience is different and it is very important that you feel comfortable in your home NA group. I know sometimes the “old schoolers” can be like that, but like you said, “there were some incredible moments.” Try and look for those if someone is boring you. I can tell you that recovery is not all fun and easy, but keep going back to the meeting and you’ll see that the 12 steps and the NA fellowship works.

- NA Blog (Editor)