Drugs

I attended a lecture regarding Opioid Crisis: Understanding Community-Based Clinical Approach. Adler Faculty of Continuing Education will be providing a six day program regarding drugs, however, for my own requirements and private practice, I think what I attended is more than sufficient. As you know addiction was never one of my interests however this has had to change considering how often people suffer from addiction. This does not only affect themselves, but their spouses and children and entire families live with the addiction. As you also know I am opposed to the legalization of marijuana, though many are for it as was one or two of the speakers. One of the speakers feels all drugs should be legalized and there is talk about this according to him. However, I have concerns especially where the underdeveloped mind is concerned. The speaker who impressed me the most is Dr Samin Hasham, Pharm D. She indicated that 50% of accidental over doses are from opioids. Canada and the USA has the highest lead of all nations. One person dies every 13 hours from an overdose; 1 to 8 youths, 25 to 34 years of age from oxycontin and other opioids. Accidental overdoses are the 3rd leading cause of deaths. According to a Canadian study, prescriptions for high dose opioids are on the rise. There are more than 13 hospitalizations a day in Canada. Median age is 44 (of Opioid overdose). Cocaine is a comeback in Toronto. In Colorado (USA) heroine is cheap. 18 year olds are having health issues as a result, which will come here. The drugs come from the far East to Vancouver Island. Regarding prescription drugs physicians are now being monitored. Now if one person has a prescription and fills it there is a record and if the person goes to another pharmacy there is an alert. Eventually, everything will be fully automated. You will no longer get a prescription. You will go to the pharmacy and all medication required will be on the computer and then the physician in real time can see. What I thought was quite sad is that until 2017 there was no tracking of homeless people having overdoses. Wayne Skinner was another speaker who described Opioid as a pain reliever but also that it provides pleasure that one may want to be in. He indicated that people like to be high. He spoke about methadone treatment, evidence based in the USA, the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s stabilized lives and if more psycho social even a better outcome. Canada was opposed. “We subjected them to get off methadone in one year.” He indicated that the worse thing during the 80’s was HIV. He indicated needles should only be used once and not a lifetime. He indicated that our philosophy has changed. Today there is a strong focus for abstinence. There are waiting lists for rehab for 200 capacity. There was a lobby for more methadone treatment. Four of five overdoses deaths are men. He questions why abstinence is the only approach. He spoke of one clinic where patients are overdosing and the staff is suffering. He indicates that self care is very important for staff. Fentanyl is quick in and out (2 to 4 hours). It is 100 times stronger than morphine and 50 times stronger than heroin. Street Fentanyl is 2mg, which is equal to just 2 grains of salt. Carfentanil is not meant for humans. In Toronto it has killed four people to date (lecture held 6 Jul 17). 20 micrograms (like a snowflake) can kill you. One million doses of Fentanyl will fit in a shoe box. One million of Carfentanil will fit in a golf ball. One to three hours after taking the drug, the heart stops, coma, death. If you are in Toronto and want to do something to help your addiction call 416-535-8501. This is an intake system (CAMH) A screener will respond. You may also call Connex Ontario. They have access to all addiction clinics in Ontario and there is a 24 hour service. CAMH assessment can refer to North Bay. Ontario Health Care. As I am completing my notes here, I remember one speaker talking about the requirement to need more of the drug which is problematic. One may stop for example if going into prison and come out and take the same dose as before he entered prison. He then may overdose and dies and this does happen. I hope this information helps you all. For those of you who work at borders be mindful that powerful mega doses can fit in such small places as mentioned above. If you are an addict be mindful of how easy it is to overdose. Is it time to go to re-hab? What do you think?

Fr Bill German S.J.

A week ago Saturday, I telephoned my almost 92 year old friend, a retired priest who doesn’t know the meaning of retirement. He was as usual very excited to hear from me. “How is the book coming?” He was referring to the Internet Murders. He knew the book was dedicated to him which made it all the more exciting. After a bit he told me that he had lost his appetite, that he wasn’t eating and that he was praying for God to come and take him. Of course I was not ready to hear that and told him he had to stay. I asked if he wanted to go to the Mandarin and he said he would go with me but would not eat since he could not. I was going to visit him in the near future. Last Saturday I was notified that he had died two days after our conversation at noon. I had debated going out to play or work in the house, when I opened up my computer to see if my publisher had sent me any feedback on my book. Immediately I saw the caption with Bill German from a mutual friend and I knew. The funeral mass would be at Our Lady of Lourdes and I shut my computer, all priorities changing. I changed and departed to see my old friend for one last time. There was a parking space available and I was pleased. I entered the church and at the rear was a coffin with my friend inside. There were posters of pictures with lots of people at different times of his life. I paused to see a younger version of himself which surprised me. I only knew him for nine years and that was as an older man. A brochure was handed out, listing his accomplishments. He was born September 1,1925, in Toronto, Ontario. It did not say that his father was a judge. He entered the Jesuits in Jul 30, 1943, Joseph Monaghan/Novice Master. He had Juniorate Studies in Guelph, 1945-47; Philosophy studies at Immaculee Conception, Montreal, 1947-1950; He was a teacher at Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia, 1950-1953. He studied Theology at Regis, 1953-54. Theology studies at St Mary’s, Kurseion, India, 1954-57. He was ordained a Priest in Kurseong, India on Nov 21, 1956. Tertianship at Hazaribagh, Darjeeling, India, 1958-59. Teacher, Headmaster, Pastor, Calcutta, Siliguri, Gayaganga 1959-70. Special student, Regis College, 1970-71. Teacher, Retreat Director, Chaplain, North Point, Darjeeling 1971-85. Special Student- Spiritual Exercises, Guelph, Ontario, 1985-86. Associate Pastor at Our Lady of Lourdes, Toronto, 1986-2014. Ministry of Prayer, Rene Goupil House, Pickering, 2014-2017. Who was Bill German? He was my Pastoral Counsellor. He was my Spiritual Director. He was my confidant. But most of all, he was my dear friend. We spent many evenings having supper out, because we both loved food. We had discussions and we had arguments and best of all we had fun. So as I looked down at my old friend, I saw a body with make up on his face and knew that he was no longer here. He was now where he wanted to be with God (Not yet said our mutual friend as we discussed later). As part of my studies before becoming a therapist and Pastoral Counsellor my self, it was required that I had my own therapy. I could not have had anyone better as I suffered watching others suffer with chronic diseases, as I suffered watching people die, as I suffered watching others suffer. My suffering turned into compassion and empathy as I learned to accept things as they are. I found my own guidance from him as I now help others. If I am a fraction of the person he was than I am pleased with myself. As I took my seat at the rear of the church, I felt it was wrong to turn my back to Fr Bill. I sat there grateful that I had checked my emails. I sat there grateful that he had been my friend. I did not have time to mourn. I was still in a state of I do not know what. Shock? Surprise? I refused to let him go. I was adamant of keeping him here. My need surpassed his of wanting to be with God. I saw our mutual friend who came to sit with me. It was he who sent me to him when I needed to fulfill this academic requirement with my second program I was in for Pastoral Counselling. The church filled quickly and then the mass begun. One person fainted. One man was sobbing so much, I thought I had to go help him, but he eventually controlled his grief. Then his eulogy begun and I heard how much he was there for everyone, how he loved his food, how he loved everyone. I heard how I was not the only person not wanting him gone. How many of us wanted to hold on to him? Ironically this morning I read a passage in the bible, “Jesus said to her, “”Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?…. Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father.””(Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene). It made me think how much we want to keep our loved ones here but how we need to let go. At the end of the eulogy, I realized that the affect this man and priest had on me was shared with all those in the mass. We loved him. We cared about him and wanted to hold on to him and why not? He had meant so much. I remember when I was formally seeing him. He wanted me to begin reading/praying the breviary. “If God wanted me to have a breviary, he would make it more affordable!” I blurted out. It was last summer that he gave me one, when I asked for it. In it he wrote “May God Bless you as you pray Fr Bill GJ” I have been reading it, studying it, and praying it since. He wanted me to have one for priests. By the end of the mass I was feeling elated. I realized I had to let go and celebrate his life and not grieve it. Our mutual friend and I went out to the Scarborough Bluffs to eat where Fr Bill and I ate last summer. It was not an easy chore because I had to push his wheel chair and it was no easy feat getting him in and out of my car. He had no qualms asking for help and he taught me it was ok. I had learned to be independent. That was the guidance from my own father. However, Fr Bill taught me the importance of balance in this department. He taught me this from watching him interacting with others. Then our mutual friend and I went to the boardwalk and we talked about life, religion, culture, war, etc…..in an environment of nature as we watched the blue lake. It was a beautiful day full of sun and warmth and food. We ended the day at a pub where we ate a pizza. I think it was a perfect day to celebrate the life of Fr Bill. I will continue to miss him, but in many ways he has left his mark on me. He has taught me by example how to care for others. He has taught me how to open my arms and reach out in pastoral care. He has taught me how to be a better person. Good bye my dear friend. I will learn how to let you go. I just need some time.