Good Drug Counselor

It was in my late teens when drug abuse became prevalent. I would be a hypocrite if I said I never tried any drug. There were a couple I tried only twice and never really liked the experience. Much more even get addicted to them. It is for this reason that I am for someone who would have experienced it and be a good counselor. Why? Because for me, experience is still the best education. Without experiences there is nothing to teach about. The best example here would be for a basketball coach or trainer. A coach or a trainer must have experienced it before being able to teach the game or counsel players, right?

The advantage of a counselor that has experienced taking prohibited drugs are:

1. He knows how it actually feels.
2. He knows what it does to his mind.
3. He knows what his thoughts were before and after taking the drugs.
4. He personally knows of people and talked to them about before, while and after the drug influence.
5. He knows of the problems that caused a person to take those substances.
6. He knows the life and lifestyle of people that are into drugs.
7. He knows the influences leading to take the drugs or getting addicted to it. That's aside from problems.
8. The combination of experience and learning more about it makes for a more effective counselor.

Going back to my teen years in the early 1970s, there would be no "experienced" counselors yet at that time. What was available only was the scientific documents showing the evils of prohibited drug use and addiction. Opportunists saw this as a big business for drug counseling and drug rehabilitation. From them evolved counselors and drug rehabilitation centers. In our country, one fellow even got out priesthood and got into this big business. Many of the substance abuse victims were from rich or well-to-do families who could afford fees charged by counseling and rehabilitation! To my point of view, they were not effective because I heard more of failures and those who went back to their drug habits. A good number of them became even worse.

Some shrinks and experts on substance abuse who have simply learned about addiction will hardly be able to relate to what truly is in a drug users' feelings and concern. They can interview and learn much from a user but can never be sure of the genuineness of the information. Would they get into it if not for the money? Those with experience get into it for money but they are worth it.