This post looks at two men–what they were, what they did then, and who they are now. These comparisons raise questions about the success and failure of the system, the Do-Gooders, and the upsurge of Government and Politicians who are pounding their chests and throwing money (due to the opiate crisis) to organizations that have done nothing!!

Note: It is well known that New Hampshire is the Opiate poster child in the United States. The New Hampshire politicians are using the pain of people’s Opiate addiction to get elected. They do not spell out a plan, but they talk a lot. Maybe, they should model a program after the documented findings from the Yale University Medical School.

If you would like to get in the mood for this post, listen to Steely Dan’s song, Do It Again.

In this post, I’m writing about  real people who are on the street, part of the subculture, and documented by me. They are Lu and Larry from 2014 and 2015.

First, we need to revisit my definition of Subculture. If you cannot identify with or know the term, you will fail to understand Lu and Gary.

Now let’s revisit Lu who I wrote about in Living in the Shelter.

Real Events between 10-2014 and 11-2014:

“At this time, I still had use of my legs, and I was sober and happy. I was working two jobs and had over $2000 in the bank. The two jobs were selling jewelry at the mall and working security. I would work 18 hours a day, come back to the house, the Portuguese resident would have dinner ready for me, and then I would go to sleep. By the third week, Lu started a fight with me. Ruff and Melvin broke it up. The fourth week, Lu disappeared. The fifth and last week, Larry challenged me to a fight outside. The reality of it was that all I had to do was use what I knew from my martial arts training: arc my left foot while on the ball of my foot, step over that foot with my right leg, turn my back, and then with the left foot throw a power back kick to the chest. But NOT me–I took the high ground. I called management from the next room, told the story, got dressed in my uniform and went to work. Six hours later I got back to the house at 12:15 am. I was immediately kicked out by the manager. I had to leave with what I was wearing. Unfortunately, that night New England was having a Nor’ester rain storm.”

Note: Gary, if you read the blog, was Lu’s friend at the shelter and shared the same bunk. Gary and Lu would frequent Nipmack for money from women. I had heard way to much and my bed was an asset for money and a friend they could trust; by fighting, I would be out of their way.

Present Day, 7-2016:

Lu moved into the same Safe House as me. Rumor on the street is that Lu had disappeared in 2014 because he was caught by the police, either for an outstanding warrant and/or soliciting himself for drug money. Lu was released from jail, is on probation, moved to a shelter, was released from the shelter, and was placed in my safe house. After 6 weeks, Lu is resistant to any rules of the house and people’s feelings. He is back traveling to the town where women pay for favors and drugs can be bought. Time will tell.

Now let’s revisit Larry, whom I wrote about in Hit the Bottom? Live with It! 

Real Events 5-2015:

“Starting in March, I was able to afford a rooming house in Rothboro; it was my own room to stay safe and have a roof over my head. Two weeks later I lost my job (my employer found out that I was homeless), bought some alcohol, and went back to the room. That is when I met Larry and his friends who had just moved in for a week. I had no TV, and they invited me to watch a movie with them. I have decades of street smarts and martial arts training, yet I let my guard down. I was robbed of my backpack and alcohol. I had to pay $20 to get my backpack and my journals, which were in the backpack, returned. There was nothing else I could do.”

Present Day, 7-2016:

Larry has been trying to come off Alcohol and Heroin addiction since that day I met him. I have been sober for over a year with the help of my friends, Mike Garrison, Martin Phillips and his wife Cheryl, and the Anti-Alcohol Drug, Gabapentin. I volunteer at the Center in Rothboro, and I have attempted to work with Larry and his use of Gabapentin. Larry has been in and out of rehabilitation centers and hospitals. Last week, Larry had his face severely beat in because he broke the rules of the Subculture. Larry is still chasing that high.

Then there is Lu. Lu will cheat, steal, and hurt you in order to get his form of gratification. Lu will never self-commit nor will he go to a center for support. I do not know of a solution for Lu’s type of world other than, shut up and stay out of the way, unless you know what you’re doing.

Conclusion: There are individuals within the Subculture who want help but cannot receive the time and care necessary to make it. I have written about important facts and solutions such as those discussed by Michael Lemonick and the Yale University Medical Studies. This is where our Do-gooders and Politicians should put their money. If they did, maybe, just maybe, they will get the same statistical results AA does–20% success or 60% depending who you talk to. I know, in his heart, Larry wants help.

Here’s what Michael Lemonick wrote in his book, When Your Brain Can’t Say No ,and what the Yale University Medical School documented:

“One thing science is increasingly validating is the power of the 90-day rehabilitation model, which was stumbled upon by AA (new members are advised to attend a meeting a day for the first 90 days) and is the duration of a typical stint in a drug-treatment program. It turns out that this is just about how long it takes for the brain to reset itself and shake off the immediate influence of a drug. Researchers at Yale University have documented what they call the sleeper effect-a gradual re-engaging of proper decision-making and analytical functions in the brain’s prefrontal cortex-after an addict has abstained for at least 90 days.”

I started this blog so that people will understand what their lives could be like on the streets and motivate them to avoid it. A good portion of the blog tells of perfect reasons to avoid financial ruin and addiction altogether.

Note: Please take it seriously and pass this information to friends, family, and social media.

Brian Masters

brianmasters919@gmail.com