Effectively overcoming the magnetism of drugs and alcohol is a life-long endeavor.

Including the brutal internal war of learning to cope with the world in new ways, reaching our utmost potential requires us to also battle the heavy burden of stigma.

Here is a brief journey up the ladder and out of addiction.

Growing up without a mother, stopping the cycle of generational substance abuse, accidental overdose, the stages of personal change, depression, love queries aftermath, being better off as a foster child, and the elements of depression.

Mental health, depression, addiction, alcoholism, fentanyl deaths, overdose, jail, and suicide…the quality live audio recording of Departing Darkness, a communal exposition of substance abuse held November 15, 2023 in Madison Wisconsin. Over 100 friends packed the room, and in excess of 250 joined the FB live-stream.

Without discussion, we sit amidst an opioid and fentanyl epidemic. National suicide rates have reached true crisis levels. Alas, addiction and poor mental health casts their anguish upon us all. Eager to transcend the torment, chiefly we lack the comprehension of where or how to begin. Realities of outpacing the suffering lingers as a far-off fantasy, and a wealth of us are convinced there is no way out. Join author Roger Ray Bird and a cast of Bright Sparks for a demystification of the self-destruction. Roger shares his personal experiences as a user and drug dealer in Baltimore, and reads from his new book Daddy, Why Were You A Drug Addict?

FREE audio reading of chapter one from the book Daddy, Why Were You A Drug Addict?

Leaving the shitty life behind, all of it.

At times I am lost.

Absorbing the pains of the world, myself included.

How do we carry our hardship and if helping, what can we do or do not for others stuck in their own little hell? Hence forthcoming, my blog novella is not for the faint of heart, and sans the potty-mouth bowdlerization, just sayin’.

TJ and I are both addicts and have seen a lot of hard shit, while learning some invaluable life lessons.

Comparing ourselves to ourselves, not others. Find our purpose, our personal truths, some blabber about striving, competing and the balance between inner freedom and gaining acceptance to fuel our dirty ego.

Keeping up with the Joneses, working towards our true potential versus getting snagged by our worst self. Learning life lessons through experimentation, righteousness, rigidness, self-sabotage, heroin, meth, coke, acid, pills, pot and alcohol.

Quitter, us as low-life piece of shit humans, homelessness, large L for Loser, and me as a high-school dropout. Staying comfortable in the pain and misery of life. Drug rehab and drug recovery. My 32-year clean time versus TJ’s 6-months clean.

Why do we use, why are we addicts? Putting forth our best effort to make a difference in the world. Being ok with rejection. We are free to be who we want to be, so why don’t we do it? Finding the courage and willingness to change.

Sporting the perm mullet, poetry, writing, meditation, mindfulness, finding community, finding our own personal path and all the glorious possibilities in front of us.

Only living with truth could I possibly live at all.

Dennis talks about his 2,500-mile bike ride and tears flow as we discuss the simple life, lost love, and homelessness

Ray Petro discusses his life-altering accident, his indoor mountain bike park in Cleveland, business, friendships, and more.

A discussion about taking a head-on approach to relationships, home life, and work life. Besides our struggle to communicate without fear of the response, we are also challenged to speak with total truth.