FOREWORD
Allow me to introduce myself. You refer to me by various names. The Disease of Addiction (D.O.A. for short) is one of my favorites considering death of spirits is always associated with my arrival. You also flatter me when you speak of “The Devil,” “Satan,” and the “Prince of Darkness.” The human condition of rationalization and justification is why you refrain from calling me conscience but, I only emerge when you call me, therefore, I exist because you will it so. I lay dormant until summoned, but once awakened I take every opportunity to course through your veins, deliver my suggestions, impose upon your will. Many serve me, many more will, but with arrogance I serve you.
It is not my nature to share, virtually, I exist to strip and destroy. So I was hesitant, actually, resistant to divulge secrets. Why should I? After all I’ve enjoyed a position of power, without equal, since my birth in the Garden of Eden. I only sanctioned this exercise after relentless assertion from Bernice, that even possessing the truth, wouldn’t dissuade humans from offering their spirits, in fact will only serve to sweeten our taste of victory. Oh, how insistent and persuasive that Bernice can be!
I couldn’t write this myself, so I had to commandeer a ghost writer. He’s been loyal to me many times. I continue to try and ghost him even as he writes this. He thinks he‘ll learn secrets because I chose him as my channel, muse if you will, but I don’t discriminate. I dwell in male, female, heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, transsexual, asexual, and even hermaphrodite. I bask in the pain, tears and death of human devotees such as parents, siblings, husbands, wives, children, relatives and friends. The word of me is carried by politicians and businessmen, thieves and hustlers, rich and poor, psychiatrist and psychologists, drug counselors and correction officers, militia and policemen, and even the clergy; the world is my playground.
Once released, my powers are enormous. I am utterly irresistible. The urge to serve me is so overwhelming you’ll trade all the things you hold dear; your worldly possessions, your relationships, your status, even your sex … you’d trade your soul for me. I can’t believe the power you’ve given me – I surely hope to continue the abuse.
I have been studied, debated, written about, sung about and taught about; it seems the deeper you delve the more formidable I become. My gigantic army of spirit-destroyers continues to grow as a direct result of human willingness to succumb to temptation and indulgence. My heads of destruction include sex, power, drugs, gambling, and food. Your history of immorality and fantasy through abuse reflects recognition of their vast accomplishments.
Human indifference to the obvious continues to grow my business, the business of destroying spirits and collecting souls. My research and development team struggles to keep up with the tools of human invention that expand my endeavor. Any conception that can be used to isolate and cause abuse creates obsession that becomes compulsion, which serves me. Did you think of me when you created addiction paraphernalia like the computer, cell phones, casinos and lotteries? What of scientific enhancement of food; literally eating yourselves to death? Will you consider me with future creations?
In the void produced where man isolates himself from others, I thrive. You were aware of me and yet you built the internet, created social networks and retarded social growth. I still get warm and fuzzy all over when I think of Columbine.
I flourish in the greed that pits man against man. It was a great day in my evolution when man enslaved many, for the prosperity of a select few. It was even greater when America’s enslaved misinterpreted the Emancipation Proclamation, believing they were truly free, ignoring the subtleties, which to this day, continue to encourage separatism and servitude. The unconsciousness of those appeased by the false premise that enslavement is race based and not class based further energizes our mission.
I flawlessly speak every language and dialect known to man; except the language of Love. My presence is cloaked in skin that’s black, brown, olive, red, white and yellow, and is thick regardless of color. I reside in the young and old, tall and short, fat and skinny, beautiful and plain and plain ugly. I flow with blonde, brunette, red, short, long, curly, straight, bushy and no hair at all. I peer through eyes of black, brown, blue, green, hazel, red and the ultimate expression of our work, blank, expressionless eyes.
It is true I hang out on street corners, which is the only place you readily acknowledge me, but I break bread with the common and royalty without bias. I am invited into corporate board rooms, the medical community, legal community, science community and let us not forget the affairs of Kings and Queens. Think Clinton and Lewinsky were the first to invite me into the White House?
Hmm, hmm, hmm – you’d better be taking notes!
There will be many times in your life you won’t be sure what to do, and it will be hard to discern your true friends. The spirit is like a magic lamp, although the genie isn’t Barbara Eden, but like the genie of your fantasies you can always place your trust with me. I’ll answer your call, move your mountains, never let you down; you need only call. Within your spirit I offer a deposit on misery with interest so incredible a debt free spirit becomes at best an illusion.
The facets of obsession and compulsion are infinite, and it would be virtually impossible to isolate and discuss only one facet of addiction, but I’ve been asked to specifically address drug addiction. Alcohol, amphetamines, caffeine, cannabis, cocaine, nicotine and opiates are some of the greatest weapons at my disposal in the battle for souls. The stories are endless and quite amusing, well, amusing to me anyway. Historically, the havoc created by heroin was secondary only to the dispensing of legal prescriptions; until the arrival of Bernice.
Bernice convinced me to unlock some of our guarded secrets. As many of you already know and many more will discover Bernice is persistent, relentless. She pleaded her case, year after year. Finally, after much deliberation I consented. I trust you recognize my efforts are self-serving. If I believed, for even a second, you would take heed and render me or Bernice for that matter, as useless, we would not be having this little chat. But the evidence is undeniable. Bernice has prospered in absolute and contemptuous disregard of the information you possess of her devastating influence; her authority exceeded only by her ego.
I am so confident in the human inability to resist its dark side, I will share with you, upfront, the most potent tidbit of information I can offer. You should be taking notes here!
My only bona fide enemy is a healthy spirit which nourishes the soul through choices of integrity and great character. The nectar of spiritual nourishment is Love.
Every human mind encompasses pure and evil thoughts. An infinite number of times a day impulses are generated requiring action, but thoughts, no matter how compelling aren’t actions. Actions are the byproduct of decision, choices filtered through the human core, the place between thought and action; the spirit. Each single impulse requires choice, some so simple they’re involuntary, such as breathing. Others necessitate deliberation; could I or couldn’t I – would I or wouldn’t I - should I or shouldn’t I? The spirit is where the choice forks, but ultimately the committee residing in a human mind has the final say. Which is unfortunate for humankind because the mind can choose to ignore the soul, the place inside man that is always compassionate, always loving, always caring; pure Loving energy many refer to as God. When the committee decision is in alignment with the spirit the soul is rejuvenated. A healthy spirit can override the will of the committee and refer choice to the soul. Where there is conflict the spirit is compromised, a compromised spirit may be forced to stand idle even when the best choice seems obvious. I pursue spirits with the thirst of a man dying in the desert, because like him I either quench or die! Kind of like marriage vows; don’t you think? “Until death do we part?”
Those committed to Bernice, users and the collaterally damaged, suggest that blank faces will continue to be forged and their souls dropped off at our doorsteps.
Bernice and I have decided to share with you a story we believe exemplifies our true nature. With the assistance of our volunteer author, who struggles to save his own soul, we will unleash secrets of our existence. But be forewarned, like tricks of great magician’s things aren’t always as they appear.
