Cocaine Addicts Wanted.

There are days when I wonder what I am doing following the straight and narrow.  I eat healthy, I exercise, I don’t drink caffeine or smoke cigarettes (or anything else for that matter).  I rarely drink wine and I’ve never snorted a line of cocaine (no response necessary!).

So, when I saw the big billboard sign downtown, “Cocaine Addicts Wanted,”  I paused.  Hmm, really?  Was this a joke?  The sign indicated that they (the University of MN) would offer some pay (good idea), medication (yes, I could use some of that) and counseling (no question!).  All they needed me to do was become a cocaine addict.  How hard is that??

All kidding aside, I decided to look into the seriousness of is ad.  I have never seen anything like it before.  Apparently, the University of Minnesota is doing a study right now on drugs that can counteract the addictive cravings that accompany the use of cocaine. That’s awesome!

However, the location of the sign made me feel bad.  It’s on a street downtown, toward the north end of town, near the light rail, where there is, one might say, a mixed crowd of downtown employees and not.  I guess what made me feel bad is that the U knew that if it put a sign in that particular place, it was likely to get takers.  Now, I know that lots of other “kinds” of people enjoy cocaine.  But, those people were not targeted.  But with my half-full glass, it also makes me happy.  Happy that the participants in this study might get help and move to a better place.

Sometimes I get overwhelmed with the sadness and difficulty in the world.  When I told the kids about the sign, they thought it was cool. Cool that the U was going to help people who “need help.”  That’s the best way to look at this sign and the program.  I’m thankful that what I heard from them was pure loving sympathy for other people.

I have nothing more nor nothing less to say today.  Just be filled with gratitude for what you have and work through the s*** that fills all our lives.  What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger … right?

Have a great start to your weekend!