FOF #730 – The Nature of Addiction
Standard Podcast [51:35m]:
Here's the latest in the tag drug abuse
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They should know better but for some reason well-to do gay men in the Midwest turn to crystal meth as a way of dealing with their loneliness, isolation and because it simply feels good.
On today’s FOF we’re talking to author Terry Oldes about his new book “Dancing with Tina” which chronicles his year-long struggle with crystal meth addiction and his troublesome romantic relationships. He was so deep into the drugs, even Fergie would be jealous.
Listen as we talk to Terry about why people get addicted to anything, especially things they already know will probably kill them. Are all gay men sex-starved drug addicts? Do gay men love meth as much as the media says they do?
Why do people think have everything thing to live for turn to a cheap, nasty drug and become addicts?
Some people say that self-esteem is at the root of the problem but I don’t think self-esteem has as much to do with self-destructive behavior as pop-psychologists would like for you to believe. There are greater factors involved and sometimes the only source of this type of behavior lies deep within. Our subconscious is a complex thing and right now we’re just scratching the surface as to understanding why rational people do bizarre or dangerous activities.
We think in the short term just like eating a greasy fried Twinkies but the problem with drugs like crystal meth is they can be incredibly addictive because they allow us to escape our everyday experience. They give us imaginations we never had before but at a price.
My hunch is that to keep people from looking for chemical forms of escape is to give them the tools before hand to allow them to deal with the reasons why they need to escape in the first place and to create an atmosphere where people have interests, passion and a delight for living.
Any person who seriously wants to help our society deal with drug abuse has to start at a very fundamental place and that is Universal Health Care. By that I mean allowing everyone to see a doctor and a dentist at least once a year. We force car owners to get their cars to get inspected every year. We force pet owners to take care of their pets. Imagine how far we would come if everyone had access to a regular physician? There is no other option in my opinion.
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FOF #709 – Growing Old Fabulously
Standard Podcast [1:08:29m]:
In many cultures the aging process is embraced and revered because as we grow older we gain wisdom, stability and respect.
But for many people, especially gay men, the aging process is a deep source of anxiety and isolation as they come to terms with unfulfilled life expectations.
Some of us came out of the closet late in life and so aging reminds us of the youthful gay activities we missed out on. Some people will do anything to avoid embracing their adulthood because in many ways they were deprived in the past of a rich gay experience and are eager to make up for it as an adult.
How do we embrace the aging process in a healthy way when our lives don’t turn out the way we expected it to?
Embracing aging is not lowering your expectations; it’s finding new creative ways to expand your horizons.
On today’s show writer, journalist and communications consultant Louis Weisberg joins us to talk about growing old and loving it!
Well known for his sharp political editorial articles, Louis joins us to talk about how he’s begun to think of aging as a fabulous process and not something to be fearful of.
Louis talks about the controversial cover story where he detailed and photographed his plastic surgery procedures and why you shouldn’t be so afraid to go under the knife.
Having spent over 20 years working in the gay press in Chicago, Louis has met and interviewed many fabulous divas like Eartha Kitt and politicians like Barak Obama.
Even though he met and interviewed the Democratic Presidential candidate hopeful from Illinois, he thinks we all should back Hilary Clinton for President.
Listen as we talk about why gay men struggle with substance abuse, finding new love and the tumultuous history of gay publishing in Chicago. This is a show you don’t want to miss.
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