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Thursday, September 23, 2010

Virginia Executes Teresa Lewis

I have to admit, I don't think about capital punishment much.  It is not permitted in Wisconsin, and it is not really much of a political issue here.  I feel as though most Wisconsin residents do not think it is an effective or humane way to treat our society's worst criminals.  It was a debate topic when I was in high school, and I usually took the position that in states where the death penalty was used more, the murder rates were actually higher and vice versa.

35 out of 50 U.S. states, as well as the federal government, allow for the death penalty.  They're in the company of some of the world's worst human rights offenders.  The U.S. is the almost the only country of any European or North American country (except for Cuba, Belarus, and St. Kitts and Nevis) to still use the practice.

The latest execution of a 41-year old woman in Virginia for conspiracy to commit murder is a new low in the sad history of capital punishment.  Teresa Lewis was reportedly suffering from mental illness and had an IQ of about 72.  If her IQ had been 70 it would have been illegal to execute her.  I feel as though society can judge her actions - ones that resulted in the murder of her husband and stepson for money - but who judges society?  Ultimately, it will be for history to decide.  But I think I already know that we will ultimately abolish the death penalty, and it is just a matter of time.

I think that if enough people were against it and spoke out, that it wouldn't need to take so long.

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Changing Perceptions about Substance Abuse

My work towards certification in Substance Abuse Counseling is going pretty well. I'm taking six credits in AODA/counseling this semester and plan on receiving my training certification in December. After that, I intend to work towards getting my licensure in Social Work with a specialty in Substance Abuse Counseling. I think that this is a really important area to work in especially with the changes in societal attitudes towards drug and alcohol use, the availability of alternative treatment and programs that allow people to avoid jail, and perhaps most interestingly, the increasing awareness about the potential benefits of drugs that used to be considered the most dangerous. These benefits, which are under very close supervision by the FDA and top-notch research institutions, are looking at whether drugs like LSD, MDMA or Ecstasy, Psilocybin mushrooms, and marijuana are effective in treating a wide variety of disorders and conditions such as depression, PTSD, headaches, addictions to other substances, and effects from cancer. I'm also encouraged by the fact that improvements to accessing mental health and substance abuse treatment are in the pipeline due to health care legislation passed earlier this year by congress. I'll be posting more articles in the future that more specifically address things that I'm interested in, but here is a link to an overview printed in yesterday's Toronto Star. Check it out, see what you think... Tune in: psychedelic drugs are back - thestar.com

Substance Abuse

My work towards certification in Substance Abuse Counseling is going pretty well. I'm taking three credits in AODA/counseling this semester and plan on receiving my training certification in December. After that, I intend to work towards getting my specialty in Substance Abuse Counseling since I now have my Social Work credential. I think that this is a really important area to work in especially with the changes in societal attitudes towards drug and alcohol use, the availability of alternative treatment and programs that allow people to avoid jail. I'm also encouraged by the fact that improvements to accessing mental health and substance abuse treatment are in the pipeline due to health care legislation passed earlier this year by congress. I'll be posting more articles in the future that more specifically address things that I'm interested in.