| In the first article of this series we explored how a | | | | This is something of value, not just to the person |
| major factor involved in addiction to drugs or alcohol | | | | possessing the talent, but to society. Discovering this |
| is the breakdown of communication experienced by | | | | talent and developing it into a marketable skill should |
| the addict when he or she is using drugs. | | | | be encouraged by parents, teachers and mentors. |
| The next aspect of drug addiction I want to address | | | | Drug abuse can destroy talent. Even while it appears |
| here is actually profound pair of changes that people | | | | to the addict that the talent is enhanced, it can be |
| using addictive drugs experience in their activities, | | | | wasted. |
| their lives and the very fiber of what they hope to | | | | I am currently counseling a young man who is |
| accomplish in life. | | | | recovering from heroin addiction. He is in his early |
| Wasted Time | | | | twenties and completely threw away a scholarship to |
| Spending time on a hobby or in learning a new skill, | | | | a state college by being stoned. He needed to attend |
| even a recreational skill is a creative function. But | | | | a detox rehab center, but refused and so I am |
| when someone spends every night of the week, and | | | | counseling him. |
| week end days, month after month, watching | | | | He is a sculptor, a good one too. He makes incredible |
| television show repeats, or sitting in a dark room | | | | ceramic figures, large, beautiful and shiny. He showed |
| listening to the same record album, there is no | | | | some of them to me. One was a four foot figure of |
| product. That time is not retrievable. Imagine what | | | | a unicorn, beautiful. Then he became caught up in the |
| COULD have been accomplished in that time. Two | | | | heroin. |
| years of that time could easily earn a college degree. | | | | He blew the scholarship by simply not showing up for |
| Or build a house! | | | | classes, and I saw the last piece he was working |
| It is ironic that young people consider their time more | | | | on-a dark, bloody pair of small elf-creatures. One of |
| dispensable that the time adults have. Probably | | | | them was stabbing the other in the face while |
| because they consider there is much more of it. | | | | laughing. I looked at him and thought, "Man, you need |
| Actually, the reverse is true. Actions taken by the | | | | help!" That sculpture was, by the way, only |
| young have far-reaching effects. The directions their | | | | half-finished. Now he is 43 weeks off drugs, but he |
| lives will take can be changed in one good decision-or | | | | still has not continued with his craft, still has not |
| bad decision. | | | | picked up one piece of clay. |
| Impress upon a young person the importance of this | | | | To have a marketable talent is a gift. To throw that |
| period in their lives. Spending three, four, or five of | | | | talent away on drugs is criminal. Most people would |
| the most valuable years of their lives being a druggie | | | | feel blessed to have such innate ability. |
| should be a crime. | | | | Of course, time and talent are only two of the |
| Wasted talent | | | | casualties of drug addiction, but they are incredibly |
| You've heard it said that everyone has some special | | | | valuable items, and when they are gone, they are |
| gift; they just need to find what it is. I believe this to | | | | gone. Helping someone to overcome addiction cannot |
| be true. Though not everyone's gift might be as | | | | retrieve lost time or might not revive a talent, but |
| valuable as the next, there will still be a talent, an | | | | does end the waste and destruction and allow the |
| area where they can shine and stand above the rest. | | | | addict to start anew. |