Reflection Blog

                          Reflection Blog Post 

This project has been an eye opening experience. From the start, I was overwhelmed and nervous but when you’re passionate about something it doesn’t really feel like work. By itself, the project seemed too big to be done on my own but the weekly units kept me on track and made it seem much more manageable. As my mom always says: “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.”

When I look back on this project, I’ve done a lot of work. I went into it intimidated and came out feeling like I have applied full effort into something that I’m passionate about and got an end product that I’m happy with. One example of this is the fact that I was intimidated about talking to addicts and had a couple of failed attempts. By the end, I just took a deep breath and did it. The long conversations came easily and to my surprise, I didn’t struggle at all. I overcame the mental barrier because by that point I was too invested in the topic to back out. 

Other lessons learned were how to realistically adjust a final goal as time goes on. For example, my first goal was to create a 10-15 minute video which would be capable of being a public service announcement warning people of the danger of drugs. As I got into it, I realized the topic was much bigger than I first thought and the people I was interviewing had no real interest in sustaining conversations for more than a few minutes. The topic is also much more complex than I originally thought. From the nature of the drugs to the psychology behind them, I simply didn’t have the resources or knowledge to produce my original end goal. Social and cultural influences such as homelessness and mental illness also play a big part in this issue and this requires expertise beyond my understanding. To truly tackle this topic and every complex factor involved, it could take years and years of research, first hand experience and education, things that a 16 year old simply doesn’t have yet. As a result, I have a much greater appreciation for those who do not oversimplify the topic. 

From a moral standpoint, it’s easier to just say, “They’re worthless druggies and it’s all their fault” but in reality that’s not the case. As I reflect on this topic, I also see a level of guilt in those that claim the homeless addicts on the street are just worthless druggies. This might be related to living with high standards of life while stepping over the people struggling with this epidemic. It’s easier to judge and dismiss them than it is to address the topic and see it for what it really is. Even though they seem almost in a different world, these people are still human beings, deserving of equal treatment. They still have brains, feelings, at one point parents that loved them, maybe even kids. No matter how we perceive them they’re still going through great suffering and deserve kindness and compassion. We can’t just sit back and judge claiming that we made “better decisions” when we may have just had better luck.

I find this topic so interesting that I’m sure I’ll continue learning about it. I’m interested in getting a better understanding of how this kind of thing happens and what can be done to prevent it. I don’t think I’ll continue videotaping or creating physical projects but in the right environment, I’d definitely be willing to learn more from people with personal experience. 

Blog Post:  Narrative

By Will McCabe 

Working on this project has been a rollercoaster of emotions. When I first started, I thought it would be a piece of cake because I am interested in the topic and I find it fascinating what large pharmaceutical companies will do for money. The whole issue of drug use and abuse is intriguing and overwhelming. I’m curious about what drugs do to your brain that would make it worth throwing you life away for. 

This week, I’d like to talk about my first attempt to communicate with former drug addicts. The day started off well with great intentions. My research was almost complete and I had my interview questions written out. All I had to do was find someone who had experienced the epidemic firsthand. That day, I was at the Shasta Public Library downtown to study for my other subjects and realized that it would be the perfect place, or so I thought. If any of you have ever been to the Redding Library, you know that it often feels like an episode of “The Walking Dead” with hundreds of homeless and drug addicts loitering and causing problems. Immediately when I got out of my car I smelt the sugary, musky, of methamphetamine (Meth in use smells like burning sugar.) I’ve done enough research on other drugs to know that the effects of meth are not anything that you want to be anywhere near so I crossed that right off my list. 

I was expecting that the library itself would have a lot of sober individuals who might be willing to help out with my project. This was not the case. In fact, I saw very few who looked approachable in any way, shape or form. Although this project and my english grade mean a lot to me, my safety is my number one priority. I worked on my other subjects for about 2 1/2 hours, kind of waiting it out to see if the crowd would lighten up or get any safer. As the day went on, the crowd seemed to get worse, rather than better. The hard part about trying to interview a drug addict is that all they care about is finding that drug and they have no intention to talk with anyone unless they’re going to help them get their next fix. I am definitely not that guy. 

All these factors combined made me conclude that it was not the right time or place to try to get productive interviews to learn more about the subject. I genuinely feel as though talking to former or present drug addicts will provide me with knowledge that biographies and books can’t, with first-hand perspective. I haven’t given up. We spoke with the facilitators of the methadone clinic in Chico and are working on a tour along with potential interviews. I have also talked with a few acquaintances who have first hand experience with the topic. Although this interview process has taken exponentially longer than I was expecting, I have not wasted time and have the entire video cut and ready, all it needs is interview clips. 

Keep in mind, my report only covers a fraction of drug abuse. Opioid addiction only scratches the surface of the illegal drug underworld which is and forever will be a problem around the world. 

Persuasive Blog Post

By Wil McCabe

As discussed in previous blogs, most heroin addiction begins with prescription painkillers. The average story starts off with a healthy member of society having some form of injury and being prescribed an opiate painkiller such as oxycodone. This brings temporary relief and with time, the person finds himself enjoying these pills a little bit too much. When the prescription ends, they start asking family or friends. Eventually, a tolerance builds up and they need more to avoid the extreme discomfort that comes from withdrawal. People say there’s nothing more painful in this world than a drug withdrawal. It often immobilizes muscles and from the second a person wakes up until the second they go to sleep, all they can think about is getting a fix. As time progresses, the user no longer has a source for pills or the money to afford them and heroin is the next best option. It is much cheaper, has a more intense effect and much easier to find on the street. 

Painkillers act by attaching specific proteins to “opiate receptors” which are found in the brain, spinal cord and gastrointestinal tract which lessen the perception of pain while also producing a sense of well-being via extra release of dopamine. Dopamine is a chemical found in the brain that makes you feel good and is released through exercise or problem solving.  Although the amount released in your brain from pills is not natural, in fact when you no longer are on pills your brain has much less dopamine than it is used to, resulting in overwhelming unhappiness. As time goes on, the body builds up a tolerance (when a person no longer responds to a drug as strongly as they did at first). This means that a higher dose is needed to achieve the same effect. Once a tolerance builds up, the user will have gone from taking pills for a “good time” to taking pills just to survive.

It is estimated that 2.1 million people in the United States suffer from substance abuse related to opioid prescription pain relievers.  According to drugabuse.gov, death certificates list opioid analgesic poisoning as a cause of death more commonly than heroin or cocaine. In 2010, there were a reported 13,652 unintentional deaths from opioid pain relieves, which is almost 83% of unintentional deaths from all prescription drugs. If these negative consequences are not enough to persuade you, prescription opioid abuse is also a disaster in economic terms.  72.5 billion dollars in annual health care costs are related to non-medical use of opioid pain relievers. 

In my opinion, opioid prescription should be the last resort of a doctor in trying to manage a patient’s pain. In today’s society, people tend to think that if it came from a doctor it is safe but in reality, pharmaceutical companies make extreme amounts of money via patients becoming addicted to their products. Unless a person literally can’t go about his or her life, because of extreme pain, a person should avoid opioids at all costs.

As a whole, my 20% project is going quite well.  The past week has consisted of communication with my mentor, the viewing of 3 educational documentaries on opiate abuse, and the beginning of the editing process on my final project.  I also went down to the library to try to start to get some interview footage but changed my mind as very few were sober enough to talk.

The first video I viewed was titled “Smack in Suburbia/ America’s Heroin Crisis” which placed an emphasis on just how prominent opiate addiction is in the United States and that it is not region specific.  It also payed great attention to individual addicts and their stories which I enjoyed as that is what I am attempting to do in my project.  Throughout my whole life, I have always been interested in these illegal substances that can destroy lives in a matter of weeks and have watched countless short films on the topic.  This 31 minute BBC documentary is my personal favorite because it covers all spectrums of the drug which many documentaries ignore. Next, I watched “Chasing the Dragon” which is made by the FBI and DEA.  This video really emphasizes the sheer danger and power of the drug.  Lastly, I watched “Teenage Heroin Epidemic” which I did not find as educational as the other films. It was a bunch of cut scenes of people shooting up heroin. As a personal recommendation, I would suggest any CBS or BBC short film on the drug to anyone wanting to learn more as they are short and concise, and place less emphasis on keeping the viewer entertained with shocking and overly-emotional cut scenes (although any visual images of these substances being consumed can be found disturbing).  

My mentor has helped me in a number of ways.  For example, she found out about the opening of a local methadone clinic, saving me a drive to Chico.  She also did a fair amount of independent research and discovered a drug abuse treatment center in Redding for Medi-Cal patients, which means that those who can’t afford it might have treatment options.  As far as one un-expected challenge, when I first started this project, I assumed it would be no problem to walk up to somebody and mention an interview about addiction.  In reality, it might be harder than I thought. The first place I went to was the library.  I found myself intimated by the fact that the homeless in Redding are not always approachable (and usually in pack of 10 or more people, adding potential risk).  After giving it a day of thought, I have decided to try again, except this time I may try environments where they would need to be sober to be there.  I am not exactly sure where that would be, but I will give it some serious thought.  As far as comments from my peers, they have been positive and interesting.  Out of all the social factors included in this project, keeping up with other students posts has helped the most in providing ideas.  So far I have learned quite a bit although the project is beginning to appear a little bit overwhelming.  The most enjoyable thing about this assignment is the fact that it collaborates passion and school and in all honesty some days it doesn't feel like I am actually doing English work.

Mentor Interview 

Cherry McCabe is a 54 year old former lawyer and professor at Simpson University.  She currently teaches political science and serves as Department Chair and Faculty Present-Elect.  She has lived in Redding much of her life and has seen the first hand results of drug addiction in Shasta County.  She enjoys the outdoors and loves traveling around the world.  At her job, she advises a number of students in their education and future plans and she has agreed to mentor me throughout this particular project. 

Question 1:  How long have you lived in Redding California?

Answer 1:  “52 years.” 

Question 2:  What is your favorite thing about Redding?

Answer 2:  “The surrounding mountains.” 

Question 3:  What is your least favorite thing about Redding?

Answer 3:  “The lack of social services, such as no counseling for those struggling with addiction or mental health issues.” 

Question 4: How do you plan on assisting me throughout this project as my mentor?

Answer 4:  “The first thing I plan on doing is discussing ideas in length and brainstorming about your goals for this project.  Secondly I plan to follow your blog, and check in at least twice a week on the progress of your blog as well as your project. Lastly I will try to use connections in the community to help you make appointments for interviews with people.” 

Question 5:  Have you even met someone who has a history of opioid use?

Answer 5:  “Possibly, but it is not something that people usually talk about.  Although I have known a couple family member who seemed to enjoy prescription painkillers a little bit too much.” 

Questions 6:  What do you see as the most harmful drug?

Answer 6:  “Heroin because it seems so common, easy to get, and easy to overdose on.” 

Question 7:  In your opinion, what is the most harmful effect of opioid use?

Answer 7:  “Unfortunately it takes people out of mainstream society by isolating them in a world with a temporary false high, followed by shame and loss. That loss includes the opportunity to pursue their potential or future dreams, to create, to feel as though they make a contribution to society, and often the loss of relationships. It seems to make people’s lives spiral out of control.” 

Question 8:  From a personal standpoint, do you feel that painkillers are over-prescribed?

Answer 8:  “I believe they are. In America, we are very quick to expect a pill as a simple solution to any and all problems. In reality, sometimes pain is simply your body's way of telling you that you need to rest or do something differently to allow healing. I have also seen statistics that show patients build up a tolerance to these opioids, so they quickly lose their effectiveness as pain relievers”. 

Question 9:  Are there any situations in which non-recreational prescription pill use is justified?

Answer 9:  “Yes, modern medicine has done a lot of good and there are times in which prescriptions are very helpful, but anything addictive should be closely monitored by a doctor."

Question 10: What would you do if someone you knew was addicted to prescription pain pills/ street opiates?

Answer 10:  “I would help them enter a treatment program and do anything possible to support and encourage them to get and stay clean and sober”.

The goal of my 20% project is to raise awareness of opioid addiction and overdoses, ranging from prescription pills to street heroin. This topic does not receive very much attention, although in reality more people die from overdoses than from car crashes and gun homicides combined (Center for Disease Control and Prevention).  Although I have always had an interest in the science behind addictive substances, a close friend of mine who is struggling with prescription pill addiction and overdose recently inspired me to work towards this goal. The use of prescription pills for recreational use is much more common than you would think and doesn't always include druggies that live on the streets but also everyday ordinary people, even those around you.

I plan to view this project as weekly tasks, starting with week 2 (current week) in which I will assess the work that needs to be done, prepare interview questions for recovering addicts, and plan out the next 5 weeks of the project. For the interview questions, I would like to learn more about why individuals might have started taking prescription pills, the personal effects of addiction, how it changes their point of view on life and what has been the most effective way to stay clean, if anything. On week 3 I will visit the methadone clinic in Chico, California to learn more about the effects of addiction and drug overdoses on individuals via real life examples. Here, I expect to see all kinds of different people, from those who once had a thriving life to those who have been not the streets and don't seem to have much of a future.  On weeks 4 and 5, I will continue to study the psychology behind these addictive substances while working on producing a 10 minute educational video summarizing what I have learned.  On the last two weeks of the “20% Project”, I will make final touches on the video and rehearse and finish a presentation covering what I have learned throughout the last 7 weeks. The main goal of the presentation is to summarize the ten minute video while providing bonus information in a more condensed and organized form. My overall hope is that this video will open the eyes of those oblivious to what's going on around them. 

Too often, people assume that "junkies" living on the streets are worthless low-lives who only made bad decisions. In reality, they could have been doctors, businessmen or any other functioning member of society before large pharmaceutical companies took advantage of them by purposely getting them addicted to unnecessary expensive pain killers. When the doctor starts to wean them off of these pain killers and they can no longer afford it, it is inevitable that they move to heroin, which is much cheaper and has an even stronger effect. 

I plan to ask my mother, Cherry McCabe, to be my mentor due to her reliability and willingness to help provide me with the resources necessary to carry out this project in a professional manner. The possible hurdles that I expect to face during this project include not being taken seriously due to my age and individuals not feeling comfortable discussing their past struggles with me. I will attempt to overcome these difficulties by dressing and speaking as maturely as possible whilst treating everyone I meet with respect and kindness.  Many people do not view these prescription pills as a problem, due to the fact that they are often prescribed by doctors, and thus people assume that they are safe. In reality, the amount of deaths via opioid overdoses is rising at a dramatic rate, in fact between 1999 and 2015 560,000 people in the U.S have died from this rising cause. For all of these reasons, I feel that this project will be worth my time and effort. It also might wake some people up.