Last week we were fortunate enough to partner up with a slew of industry insiders to shoot a video segment on Chemical Dependency and its role in the court system. The video is currently being edited, but we wanted to preface the series with a little more information about chemical dependency and substance abuse.
At Appelman Law Firm, we work tirelessly in a comprehensive fashion to help all of our clients who are struggling with substance abuse disorders. We have resource partners in a variety of fields, from psychologists and social workers to case managers and treatment providers. We pride ourselves in our ability to help clients through the challenges of being prosecuted, which many times is a manifestation of their addiction.
One of our partners is Jay Staples from Burning Tree Treatment Center in Texas. Jay connected with a poet named IN-Q, who wrote a poem that delves into the mindset of someone who is chemical dependent. The poem is called “Addiction Poem” – A Message of Hope. With their permission, I have included the written poem below, as well as a video they produced that includes an audio version of the poem. Please take a few minutes to watch the video and read the poem to better understand the mindset of someone battling chemical dependency.
“Addiction Poem” – A Message of Hope
So this is living
Every single day is like a blessing we’ve been given
I keep my scars hidden behind the bars of this prison
I keep my flaws tucked, right behind my front, sucking up this blunt
I don’t give a
Hey what’s up
How you been
Cool man I’m doing me
Chiller than the Artic but burning like a third degree
I’m open like a surgery
I’m searching for a crutch
It’s as natural as putting antiseptic on a cut
Heal me
I fiend for my fix
There’s a void on the inside
I fill it up with fluff to avoid where my sins lie
I’m talking puppy dogs and ice cream
Caffeine, nicotine, puffing on a pipe dream
Daddy needs a new pair of anything
Maybe you relate
Lay your head upon my pillow, wake up with a clean slate
I thought that if I found out who I was
Away from anything I’d ever tried to use to catch a buzz
I would build a better me
So I did
Delving into all of the hurt I had hid since a kid
Everytime I felt the urge I would hold on
I want to reach the other side, my goal’s to be headstrong
When right feels dead wrong
When night feels too long
When life feels too long
When hindsight is blinding and reminding us to hold on
You’re not alone
We’ve all been there together
We’re facing the storm because bad weather ain’t forever
We’re breaking the norm
To see if maybe there is more
But we’ll never know until we’re on the other side of that door
I don’t want to use you for anything
Abuse you for anything
Or lose you to anything
Love is not obsession, there are no strings attached
So I cant love you if I’m like yeah but there’s a catch
I want freedom from desire because this moment is real
They speak about courage but they don’t own how they feel
I want to scream truth
Just to hear it echo back
I don’t need your validation this is truly where I’m at
See this poem is for the lost and the found
Who’ve been tossed to the ground
Who’ve been crossed by their friends
Get up stand your ground again
Make your heart the strongest muscle that you’ve got
Then let it guide you in the dark
Until you reach the other side.
To see more from IN-Q or the Burning Tree Treatment Center, check them out on these social media channels:
