August 1, 2025 • 39 mins
In a recent Boston Globe article, columnist Joan Vennochi expressed her thoughts on the growing opioid crisis and involuntary commitment for those with drug and alcohol addictions. Although voluntary care is preferred, involuntary, such as a Section 35, may be the only option for law-abiding citizens to live freely without the distraction of those living unhealthily on the streets.
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
It's Nightside with Dan Ray on WBS Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
Thank you very much, Al Griffin. Interesting column in Yesterday's
Boston Globe by Joan Venake. And one of the things
we like to do here on Nightside is discuss topics,
which might be what you call fifty to fifty topics
where a good portion of the audience might agree and
(00:27):
a good portion of the audience might disagree. And I
thought that this is one that we'll be discussed in
the weeks ahead, and I think you need to know
a little bit more about it, not that some of
you don't know a lot about it. Right now, we're
talking what's called in Massachusetts a section thirty five petition. Now, again,
(00:49):
the terminology on this sort of stuff is always interesting,
but it's a simple procedure that is used in effect,
four people who have an addiction this is alcohol, legal
or illegal drugs or both. Those people are the people
(01:10):
who are have to respond to this. And if all
of the criteria are met, a judge can commit someone
to a civil treatment program. It's not criminal, but a
civil program from up to ninety days. Now, the person
(01:30):
who is presenting or the person who is who actually
you're basically trying to get them committed. They have to
present an immediate likelihood of serious harm to themselves or
others above and beyond the addiction. It's not if you
have a blood relative or someone who is addicted to
(01:58):
alcoholic drugs. The likelihood of serious harm is necessary for
the judge to order the conviction. It's an emergency measure.
It's not a long term solution for alcohol or substance abuse.
The law defines likelihood of serious harm as a substantial
risk of physical harm to the person him or herself,
(02:20):
as manifested by evidence of threats or an attempt at
suicide or serious bodily harm. So if you know of
someone who is addicted to drugs and alcohol and is
making threats of I'm going to kill myself, you know
it's a substantial risk of physical harm to themselves or
(02:43):
to other persons as evidence by violent behavior homicidal behavior.
If you don't interfere before they act on homicidal behavior,
they're going to be in the criminal justice system. So
right now, we in Massachusetts have a lot of people
who are homeless. That is not enough to commit someone,
(03:08):
But you have people who not only are homeless, but
they are drug dependent, and they basically do whatever they
need to do to maintain that drug dependency, up to
stealing from other people living literally living on the streets,
(03:34):
sharing needles. I mean, it's it's horrific. And in addition,
as Joan Venaki points out in her column yesterday in
the in the Boston Globe, she says, you know this
is her first paragraph. She says, this is a thought experiment.
A person who appears to be to be homeless settles
(03:57):
in on the sidewalk in front of my house, is
hypothesizing this and begins to self inject with drugs. Others
start to congregate and use my lawn as a bathroom.
Sometimes fights in sexual assaults breakout. She asked the question,
how long would I or you let that go on?
(04:17):
If I asked local political leaders for help and they
told me they're doing their best, but this is an
intractable national problem, I wouldn't accept it, would you? But
for a long time? Acceptance is what is expected from
South End residents who live near the intersection of Massachusetts
Avenue and Malina Cass Boulevard known as Masson Cass. But
(04:41):
this is more than just massive cass Okay. This is
a solution which I think needs to be used more often,
and I think the implication of Joan Vanaki's article is
that but this might be a measure that would be
(05:04):
short of putting the National Guard in the streets of Boston.
Venaki rights, the rationale behind the policy is also worthy
of consideration. Shifting homeless individuals into long term institutional settings
(05:25):
for humane treatment through the appropriate use of civil commitment
who restore public order. This is out of Donald Trump's
executive order. Surrendering our cities and citizens to disorder and
fear is neither compassionate to the homeless nor other citizens.
Naki Rights calling for the National Guard to deal with
(05:45):
the mass and cast crisis, as some South a residents
have demanded, is more what she calls performative politics. It
seems to me that is the ultimate frustration. Based upon
what I have heard from people who live in the
South End, Svenaki ads that's not the answer, but it's
time to acknowledge that other answers haven't worked. Meanwhile, the
(06:08):
impact on quality of life is unacceptable. Residents are very frustrated.
Their patience is gone. Imagine seeing what they see every
day in front of your own home, and it's easy
to understand why. So what I want to do is
talk about this. I know that amongst my libertarian listeners
(06:31):
or people who think of themselves as libertarians, they would say, hey, look,
if someone is not harming another person, they should be
able to live their life in whatever way they want.
But besides confronting someone and trying to rob them, or
confronting someone and trying to intimidate them into giving money
(06:56):
to the person, there are ways in which the behavior
of individuals who are drug dependent and who are alcohol
addicted just changes the neighborhood again whether the neighbor whether
the neighborhood is in Boston or in Worcester, in Springfield,
any major city. UH. It tends not to occur in
(07:20):
our leafy bedroom communities because our leafy bedroom communities wouldn't tolerated,
and the police departments UH will certainly pick people up
uh and and question them if they're walking the streets
aimlessly UH and appear disheveled and appear homeless. There's kind
of a double standard here. What is tolerated in places
(07:42):
like Lowell, in New Bedford, Fall River, Brockton, you name it. Worcester, Springfield,
Haveril in some In some instances, Lynn, you know, the
cities I'm talking about would not be tolerated in the
leafy suburbs. And Vernaki, who is not a fan of
(08:04):
Donald Trump in any way, shape or form, at least
from the joan Vernaki that I know, basically is suggesting
involuntary commitment should be on the table in the opioid crisis.
We've been living with the opioid crisis now for a
couple of decades. Okay, it's been with us going back
(08:27):
to the twentieth century, it's now twenty twenty five. I
think that Section thirty five petitions need to be filed
more often, and I think the judges need to be
more understanding the way the law is written. You have
to comply with the law. And again, as this summary
(08:49):
that I'm looking at says, the likelihood of serious harm
must be current and directly related to the alcohol or
substance use disorder. Well, if somebody is walking this and
its homeless, and it's an alcoholic and is sleeping on
the front steps of people anywhere in Massachusetts, or sleeping
on the front lawns of people because of alcohol or
(09:12):
drug addiction. I think there is a likelihood of serious harm,
and I think that it's time for our judges to
toughen up a little bit. And I think that also
police departments can toughen up a little bit. I'm not
saying arrest them. I'm not saying put them in jail.
I'm saying get them the help they need. Six one seven, two, five,
(09:34):
four ten thirty six one seven nine three one ten thirty.
Going to open up the phone lines. My suspicion is
that most of you agree with me, and most of
you agree if you read Joe Banaki's piece in the
Boston Globe yesterday. The question that you're going to answer
now is whether or not you have the courage to
join us and let others know who may feel like you. Yeah,
(09:57):
I believe in it, But why is you say it?
Give us a call and express your opinion, because we're
going to lose communities here in Massachusetts to drug addiction
and alcohol addiction, and now we're on the cusp of
opening up cannabis cafes. Good luck with that. Six one seven, two, five,
(10:18):
four ten thirty six one seven, nine three thirty. This
is a problem that extends way beyond one section in
the south end of Boston. It extends well beyond Master casts.
It is everywhere in the come Wealth of Massachusetts except
in the leafy suburbs.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
Back on Nightside after this, it's Night Side with Dan
Ray on Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
So it looks like some of you are shy here,
So let me ask the question on a little more
personal basis. Okay, Let's assume there was someone in your family,
maybe not someone in your immediate family, someone who's living
in your home, or maybe they are living in your
home and they have shown some signs of aggressive behavior.
(11:05):
Or there's someone who you know out on the streets
of your community and they are addicted to some serious drugs.
They're not just smoking marijuana, they're dealing with serious drugs,
or they're alcohol addicted. Would you have the guts and
the courage to go into court. The people who can
(11:26):
actually seek a petition or ask a court to have
someone involuntarily committed for alcohol or substance abuse treatment, blood relatives, spouses,
police officers, court officials, physicians, and guardians. People who can't petition. Again,
(11:46):
I don't understand the distinction here, but I guess if
you're the person with an addiction or alcohol you can't
go into court and ask for help. Seems to me
that you should be at the front of the line. Girlfriend's,
(12:07):
boyfriends and significant others, therapists, and social workers. I can
understand that friends, neighbors, landlords, and concerned citizens. Okay, I
guess what they're trying to do is limit the potential
abuse here. Okay, But as far as I'm concerned, and
you can agree or disagree, we have a crisis in
(12:32):
this country now, and the crisis deals with drug addiction
and alcohol addiction, and at some point, at some point,
it has the potential to impact any one of us,
any one of us. I suspect that the guy who
walked into the office building in New York this week
(12:53):
and took the lives of for innocent people, that there
was something going on there. I think there was something
more than a few heads hits to his head during
his high school football days. This guy, you know, the
story will will disappear. Okay, sadly, the story will disappear. However,
there is I think a story that on this guy.
(13:18):
We should find out why he did what he did.
Took the lives of four people, changed the families of
four people. So again, I know that some of you
have an opinion, but you're a little shy tonight. Don't
be shy six one seven four ten thirty six one
seven nine three one ten thirty. You can save someone's
(13:42):
life if you have some guts and you have some courage.
Just have the guts to call and tell me what
you do. Donnie and South Walpole, Hey, Donnie, how are
you section thirty five petitions? What do you think?
Speaker 3 (13:54):
I've been section thirty five twice?
Speaker 2 (13:57):
Really? How is you doing? How are you doing?
Speaker 3 (14:02):
I'm doing all right. I'm doing better than I was
before I did the I did thirty five days and
thirty six days twice. And Dan, thanks to taking my call.
I appreciate it. And when I turned the radio on
like I do arby night before going to bed, I
(14:25):
heard your subject and I said I have to comment.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
Well, thank you.
Speaker 4 (14:30):
Now.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
First, first of all, let me just say congratulations to
have gone through this process. Could I ask you, because
you have experienced that I haven't, why were you sectioned?
Why were you sectioned meaning you know, committed involuntarily? And
who was it that was good enough in your life
(14:52):
to help you.
Speaker 3 (14:55):
Once was the judge and once was a doctor at
local hospital uh and in the Needham area. He he
realized I had been in the hospital for E T
o H, which is alcohol abuse, eleven times in two years.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
Wow, and how many times you you were in it?
You were in and out eleven times?
Speaker 3 (15:31):
Yes, sir?
Speaker 2 (15:32):
Okay again, I'm coming back to how you're doing now.
You sound pretty good to me. You're speaking, well, are
you working? Are you are you okay? Just you know,
reassuring me that you're doing better.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
I'm doing much better. I'm I believe it or not.
My problems became prevalent when I retired from Worick. I'm
sixty seven years old, and I just need to stay
(16:11):
away from the triggers.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
Okay. So, so for you it was was.
Speaker 3 (16:17):
It alcohol, yes, sir? No drugs? Good alcohol?
Speaker 2 (16:22):
Okay, that's okay. I mean for some people it's both,
as you know, Donnie. So, so when was the last
time that you were that you get out of the
section thirty five situation?
Speaker 3 (16:37):
It was, Well, it's been a while, A good thing.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
That's a good thing. No know, how.
Speaker 3 (16:43):
Long, at least three months?
Speaker 2 (16:47):
Okay, Look, three months can be a long A real
long time. Uh. And are you living out on your own?
Are you living with family? What sort of a support
system do you have?
Speaker 3 (17:00):
Well? I attend my AA meetings in my local bown.
It's a small group, about twenty five people, so everybody
gets chanced to speak their piece. But I do live alone,
and that's one of the biggest dangers is isolation.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
Sure, absolutely, Donnie. Can I ask you when you were
working before you retired, what type of work did you do?
Just generally, just give me a general idea.
Speaker 3 (17:35):
I was in, believe it or not, food service, running
kitchens and nursing homes for forty years.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
And were you during that period of time. And don't
take this question, it's not intended to be offensive, but
some people can be what's called functioning alcoholics. I mean
they can be an alcohol that they can still get
to work on time and do their job. Or did
this start start to creep up on you after you retired.
Speaker 3 (18:09):
It's sort of the I mean I always went to
work on time because you never knew when someone was
going to bang out sick and I would have to
end up being the cook yep. But it really really
exploded when I retired and then the pandemic hit.
Speaker 2 (18:30):
Sure, because you're even more isolated.
Speaker 3 (18:33):
Well, if you look at the stats alcohol would use
in purchases when I'm forty four percent sure during a pandemic,
But I.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
Think people had time on their hands, they were at home,
they could function. Yeah, I mean it was kind of
a perfect storm that you found yourself in.
Speaker 3 (18:55):
This is true, Yes, Dan, that's correct.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
Well, Donnie, first, well, thanks for having the guts to
deal with it. I have a lot of friends in
your category who are doing really well, and it sounds
to me like you are well on the road to recovery.
I hope you continue to listen to my show and
join us on any subject that you want to talk about.
And you live in a great community, uh in Walpole,
(19:20):
and you know say stay stay away from from from
the alcohol temptation. And you know what I would say
to you in retirement. And again I'm not you know,
I'm not an expert on anything, Donnie, So take this,
take this with a huge grain of salt. Okay, Uh,
(19:41):
to develop an interest, you know when it was get
keep yourself busy. Even though you're retired and you're not
going to work, you can develop an interest either, you know,
hobby or you can you can volunteer somewhere to help,
you know, coach, coach little league team or something have,
you know, have something that gives you a purpose in days,
(20:05):
so you're not just getting up and saying, what am
I going to do today? I mean, I think you're
going to figure it out, and I think you're going
to be okay. And I congratulate you on your recovery.
And I congratulate a lot of great people have gone
through what you have gone through. I mean, yeah, well,
I keep thinking about my my, my good friend, former
Boston mayor now the executive director of the NHL Players Association,
(20:30):
Marty Walsh.
Speaker 3 (20:31):
He was an alcoholic, that's correct. Yeah, I can remember
it publicly admitting that he was recovering alcoholic.
Speaker 2 (20:43):
Yeah, and so, uh again, you're on the road to recovery.
And please listen to my show at night when you
can give us a call on whatever subject you have,
and uh, you know, get get something to get you
going every day. That's what I'm what I'm trying to
say to you. You know, I think the worst thing in
the world is to wake up and have some too
(21:03):
much time on your hands.
Speaker 3 (21:05):
Yeah, Dan, you're exactly correct, and I thank you for
your advice, and I thank you for your show. I
listened to it almost every night. And then I'll.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
Thank you for your courage to have looking in the
mirror and realizing that you had a problem that needed
to be addressed. And just stay with it, my friend, Okay,
and keep in contact. Would your.
Speaker 3 (21:31):
Thank you Dan godvice?
Speaker 2 (21:33):
Right back at you, Donnie, right back at you. Well,
that's an amazing phone call. And if that doesn't stir
you to to pick up the phone and say something
positive to that young man at sixty seven years of
age dealing with it, it can hit us. It can hit
us at any time. I mean it's it's it's an illness.
(21:53):
It's a sickness. I get it. You can catch you
can catch COVID at any age, any and you cant's
this six one, seven, two, five, four ten thirty six
one seven, nine three one ten thirty give us a call.
I think it's important and have the courage that Donnie had. UH.
If you are a beneficiary of a Section thirty five situation,
(22:16):
feel free to join the conversation. UH, if you want
to talk about what you might do and would you
have the guts to actually take someone or or petition
that someone be committed civilly, let me know. And if
you think I'm way off base and it's none of
my business and none of your business, feel free. Six
(22:37):
one seven, two, five, four ten thirty, six one seven
nine to three one ten thirty. At ten o'clock, we
are going to talk about Justin Timberlake's diagnosis of having
lime disease. But we're more importantly going to talk with
an expert, a doctor who's been on this show before,
about the long term implications of either undie gnosed or
(23:01):
improperly treated lime disease. And it will scare the the
Bajzadi of trust me on that. Okay, stay with us,
and then we're going to do our twentieth hour, and
I'm going to ask you at eleven o'clock tonight to
tell me the best your best childhood memory, your best
summertime childhood memory of when you were younger. Well, coming
(23:23):
right back on nightside, let's light these lines up. I
get one line at six one seven, two four ten
thirty and one at six one, seven, nine three, one
ten thirty. This is an uncomfortable topic to talk about,
but think about how uncomfortable and how much curried courage
Donnie had to get this conversation started back on Nightside right.
Speaker 1 (23:40):
After this, You're on night Side with Dan Ray on
w BZY, Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
All right, let's get right to the calls. Try to
get everybody in. I promise people have called late. Let's
go to Betty on the boat. Betty, how are you doing?
By the way, I talked to you about a week ago,
and I know you're struggling with a little bit of
an issue.
Speaker 5 (24:01):
Yeah, I'm still struggling.
Speaker 2 (24:04):
Okay, it's okay, you're going to You're gonna survive, Go
right ahead.
Speaker 1 (24:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (24:09):
And somebody said, Betty, you cured a cat or renal failure.
You're going to cure yourself or whatever You've got.
Speaker 3 (24:15):
I know you.
Speaker 5 (24:18):
I don't know if I've ever told you this before,
but there's a lady out of Arizona, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Albuquerque,
New Mexico. Her name is Kathleen de May Song. She
has a ninety two percent success rate of keeping people sober. Wow,
(24:39):
and she does it through diet and that she's a
public fact. And it's a published in the in the
Doctrines of medicine, and I feel as though that I
believe that some people need to step for others when
(25:01):
they can't speak for themselves. But if that situation presents,
then you have to have your big boy pants on
that day and accept the help that's being offered to you.
Speaker 2 (25:16):
Yeah. I mean Donnie who was a first caller. He
really epitomized someone who accepted it. And I hope and
I pray that he is that he continues to be successful.
Speaker 5 (25:30):
Yeah, I do too. And one of the biggest things
is when people coming off of alcohol, the first thing
they do is they go and replace it with sugar,
which is just as addictive as cocaine. It's only one
molecule different, and you go to I was visiting a
(25:52):
person in Detoks recently and all they did was go
eat ice cream, and I took it away from them.
I was just going to stop it. You're not going
to get better.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
Well, yeah, right, you're right. I mean, you're right, as
we talked about that last hour. Actually everything in moderation,
but it's tough. I mean all addictions, all of us
are addicted to something, even the people who are in
the best condition, they're addicted to being in the gym,
and people will spend four or five hours in the
gym every day because they want to have the perfect physique.
(26:25):
And I guess any addiction is eventually tough.
Speaker 5 (26:31):
Yeah, And to give it up, you have to be
willing to walk away from it. It's I go buy
an ice cream stand every night on my way, either
two or from the above. And there are many hot
nights I'd like to stop in there and get it myself,
an ice cream cut. And I say, you're stupid, fool,
you can't do it.
Speaker 2 (26:52):
Ok.
Speaker 5 (26:54):
But acceptance is a big part of the process of
healing thyself.
Speaker 2 (26:59):
Yeah, no, no, no question, no question about that, for sure,
for sure. Just stay well. You gotta you got some battle.
But you're you're strong enough, I know, and you're gonna win.
You're gonna win that battle, and I want.
Speaker 5 (27:19):
I will do that. You take care, sir, that.
Speaker 2 (27:23):
You too, Betty, And and and be good to the
new cat that you've that you now have as a pet.
Speaker 5 (27:28):
Okay, lost girl is doing fine.
Speaker 2 (27:32):
Excellent, excellent.
Speaker 5 (27:33):
Good to know, thanks so much better.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
Good night. Okay, Let's get one more in here before
the break, and then we'll go to break. Gonna go
to Robin Medford, Rob you and next on nights go
right ahead.
Speaker 4 (27:46):
Hey, Dan, forgive me for being a dreamer, but I
feel that there ought to be a community for these folks,
and not just one community. There ought to be communities
established throughout the country. This is a national problem. We
have people that have abused problems and psychological problems. Why
can they not be communities for them, like little communities
(28:10):
where they can live and go and learn how to
function and take The politicians are not responsible for what
they say, won't tell us what they spend their money on.
Why could they not take like two billion dollars and
build a community that would house like, say, oh, I
don't know, five hundred people from Malnia casts and give
(28:32):
them all the things in that little you know, I mean,
start a new place where they have a little hospital,
they have a little woodworking shop, they can get their
lives together. And this wouldn't just be for voluntary I mean,
this wouldn't be just for committed people, but it could
be voluntary. Dan, I think that we have the youth
situation that would benefit from this. That money is so
(28:55):
wrongly spent. They ought to be able to establish these
little communities. I don't know if I can mention like
some of these warrior projects, but they set up individual
like small little towns and communities like in off to
themselves where they can function and be amongst themselves in
some maybe some wooded lake area.
Speaker 2 (29:16):
Well you know what, Rob, again, I think I don't
know if such communities exist. There are there, There's lots
of help for people who have addictive problems. Okay, but
first of all, a lot of people who have addictions
are unwilling to admit it, and a lot of people
who have addictions like being addicted. They may tell you
(29:40):
they don't like being addicted, but if they didn't like
being addicted, there are programs that exist. All I'm talking
about right now is is this article by Joan Vanaki
in which, you know, I thought it was refreshing to
see the theory that she took. Yes, it's it's you know,
(30:01):
I'm sure that that your attitude is let these people
live whatever lives they want. The problem is.
Speaker 4 (30:08):
No, no, no, no, straighten their lives out, Dan. This is
if you build it, they will come. These could be
like uh like rehab communities.
Speaker 2 (30:17):
So let me ask you this, So they would have
to go there voluntarily and they couldn't use while they
were there.
Speaker 4 (30:23):
Right, absolutely, they would, they would check in and they would,
but it would it would, Dan. If you build it,
they will come.
Speaker 2 (30:30):
But what I'm saying is what I'm saying is there
are problem there are programs like that now, Rob, and
there are a lot of people.
Speaker 4 (30:37):
Who are not attractive to these folks.
Speaker 3 (30:39):
Then it's not like, what do you want to do,
like build.
Speaker 2 (30:42):
A million dollar homes so that they could have an
individual I don't know, Rob.
Speaker 4 (30:46):
I have about little thirty thousand dollars shacks in a community,
like little mini homes. Like instead of spending two billion
dollars on housing illegal people, why don't we spend it
on the mal needed cast giving it up and thirty
thousand dollars.
Speaker 2 (31:01):
Okay, let's let's do this, Rob, Let's do this. You
always feel strongly about it, and I very much appreciate
your call, but I'm up on my break. Let's see if.
Speaker 4 (31:11):
Where did our money go. They won't let us. They
won't let that lady find out what did the taxpayers
spend their money on. They won't even tell us.
Speaker 2 (31:22):
You know you're talking about what you're talking Let me
explain what you're talking about there for people who don't
know what you're talking about, you're talking about is the
state auditor, Diana Dezaglio, who wants to actually do an
audit of the legislature, which the public voted overwhelmingly for.
So you're you're right on that point. I agree with
you totally.
Speaker 4 (31:45):
We spent.
Speaker 2 (31:48):
Rob stop yelling at me, first of all. Second of all,
I took you before the break so you wouldn't have
to sit through the break. But I got to take
a break. Now. Let's see if there are people who
want to respond to your suggestion. Fair enough.
Speaker 4 (31:59):
I'm just emotional, Dan, It's just say I know that.
Speaker 2 (32:02):
But again, you're running time now and I hit people
who are waiting. So I'm going to thank you for
your call. Apologize, you have to apologize. Have a great night.
Good night. We'll be back on Nightside right after this.
Speaker 1 (32:13):
You're on Night Side with Dan Ray on WBZ, Boston's
news radio.
Speaker 2 (32:19):
A right back to the college.
Speaker 4 (32:20):
Go.
Speaker 2 (32:20):
Let me go to William down in Maryland. Hey, William,
welcome back. How are you sir?
Speaker 3 (32:25):
Hey? How you doing Dan?
Speaker 2 (32:26):
We're doing right. I'm a little bit on time, buddy,
so I'm gonna push you a little bit here. Everybody's
stolen some of your time. What's your thought on this?
Speaker 6 (32:36):
Uh?
Speaker 7 (32:36):
My thought is that we have the same problem here
in Baltimore. It's an area down here called Pennsylvania North Avenue.
They call it penn North. We just had twenty seven
people over those last week.
Speaker 2 (32:45):
Wow.
Speaker 7 (32:46):
It's an area where people it's like an open air
drug moutfit. It's right as a metro stop. They're out there,
twenty four to seven people laying all over the place.
Speaker 3 (32:56):
Uh.
Speaker 7 (32:56):
You see people standing in there like zom leaving all that.
And you know, I'm to color with myself.
Speaker 6 (33:01):
Dan.
Speaker 7 (33:02):
I got, I was, I had ten years, and then
when my wife passed away in twenty sixteen, I drank
again and I went pre covered Recenters of America in
twenty eighteen. And I've been told every since, all through
the pandemic and everything.
Speaker 2 (33:16):
Yeah, I've been called here. I did not realize that
you had had survived that. But congratulations and hats off
to you, William. And it can be done.
Speaker 7 (33:27):
Yes, then with AA and uh, you know, getting getting
the sponsored us for a long time for them ten years.
When I got married, I just got I just said, well,
I'm not going to be like my father was an
alcoholic and my mother divorced him. Right, And when I
got married, I got married late. But uh, I said,
when I got married, I wasn't going to do my
wife like he did it, like he did my mother.
(33:48):
So I stopped drinking. I didn't drink. I went to AA,
but I didn't have a sponsor, and I stayed solder
the whole time I was married because my wife died
twelve years we were together and U and of course
I fell off, you know, after passed away for like
a year, almost two years, I went and got help
through my job. You know, I was working alcoholics. I
did go to work, but uh, I drink, you know,
(34:10):
and uh you know, I I you know, but I've
got the AA and now one day at a time,
I'm going to stay so it is help, right, Like
I was trying to explain to this guy here in
Baltimore on the radio, I said, with these people that's
not working right, and they're drug addict, an alcoholic. They
come with crimes they just hadn't got caught.
Speaker 4 (34:27):
Right.
Speaker 7 (34:28):
So when I years ago, when I when I first
got introduced to alcoholics anonymous, it was through the court system.
Speaker 6 (34:34):
Right.
Speaker 7 (34:35):
Jard said, I'm looking at the record of mister Twyce,
and uh say, I see everything wrong here is alcohol related, right,
he says. So, he said, I see that you work.
He said, I'm going to I'm going to send these
people prot Rational Department, and you have to attend the
are meetings or you.
Speaker 3 (34:50):
Will go to jail.
Speaker 2 (34:51):
Right, that saved your life.
Speaker 7 (34:56):
Yes, So I think that they're introduced to the AA
or any program at least it into d sto it right,
and and and did and first of all, you got
a d capital so they're don't have to go into
a twenty eight day program like I did. A couple
of centers of America. I will call it the uh,
I will call it the hotel system because it's a
great place. I mean, they really teaching good you know.
Speaker 2 (35:18):
Uh, congratulations, William I got to sea here. Do me
a favor. I was worried about you the other day.
I thought of I said, I haven't talked to Williams
and William in a couple of months, so, uh, don't
be a stranger.
Speaker 3 (35:30):
Okay, Oh well, I want I'll be listening to you.
Speaker 7 (35:33):
I'll be listening. Sometimes those really hot topics.
Speaker 2 (35:38):
Okay, thanks Williams.
Speaker 7 (35:39):
I'm talking.
Speaker 3 (35:39):
So have a great weekend, all right, have a good night.
Speaker 2 (35:42):
YouTube. You go next to Gina in Bridgewater. Gina next
on Nice, I go ahead, hello, oh Gina, you got
to help me out here and talk into that right
into that that better?
Speaker 3 (35:59):
Now?
Speaker 2 (35:59):
Better now, Gine, just put it right by the mouth piece.
Speaker 8 (36:02):
Go ahead, all right, And no, I just want to
say that if anyone does admit anyone they section him,
it's a good thing, because it's a hard thing to do.
Because I remember, many many years ago, I did it
to someone that was older than myself.
Speaker 4 (36:17):
I was younger.
Speaker 8 (36:18):
Yep, you only have to go in front of the
bloods and without them knowing that it was hurtful. But
I did the best thing for them because I knew
if I didn't do that, they would have be the
ben in jail or something bad would have happened.
Speaker 3 (36:31):
So I stepped up.
Speaker 5 (36:33):
I did it.
Speaker 8 (36:34):
I didn't know if it was the right thing, but
his buddy, his best friend, told me, don't even call him,
don't go see him. Wait for him to call you
and he will thank you. And believe me, I never
seen a man with kids in his eyes when I
went to visit him and he did me because he
probably would have been dead if I didn't do that.
Speaker 2 (36:52):
So, Gina, that is such a great that is such
a great story.
Speaker 8 (36:57):
It should be someone that really know the person, not
just anybody looking at somebody and looking down at him
because a lot of them people don't want to be
like that. He was an alcoholic, okay, and a lot
of people out there don't want to be like that.
They really don't. It's bad. And they even say that
they want to get out of it. That they do
(37:19):
want to get out of it. But it has to
be the white people that can connect with them.
Speaker 2 (37:23):
Oh that's great, Gina. Thank you so much for having
the courage to do what you did. Thank you for
having the courage to call the program tonight. I have
one other caller. I'm going to give just about a
minute too, but please call a little earlier this weekend,
have longer conversations. Okay, thank you, Thanks Gina, have a
great weekend. All right. Gina has stepped aside. Dick in Topsfield.
I got it a little over a minute for you.
(37:44):
Go ahead, Dick.
Speaker 6 (37:45):
Thank you to taking my car Dan. My older mother
Tolly has noting alcohol.
Speaker 3 (37:50):
He was an.
Speaker 6 (37:51):
Alcohol for thirty five years. He goes to AA seven
days a week. On the weekend, he runs them and
he lives in Connecticut. He's done so him for thirty
five years. And I give him medallions every five years,
and he puts it on my mother's headstone. He's got
pouring them over there. And then hehow when he was drinking,
he lost his license a couple of times, and lost
(38:12):
good jobs. None of that anymore. He straightened himself out.
I'm proud of him.
Speaker 2 (38:17):
Well, he should be proud of you because you've you've
supported him all along. Uh, Dick, I'm flat out of time.
I'm gonna let you run and we will talk soon.
Speaker 4 (38:26):
Okay, Thanks Dick, keep up good, keep up a good work.
Speaker 2 (38:29):
Dan, Thank you, my friend. Talk to you soon. Coming
back on the other side, we're going to talk about
justin Timberlake. He has lime disease. I hope he gets
the proper treatment, medical treatment, and we're gonna be talking
with longtime lime disease expert roomnologist, rheumatologist, male clinic trained
(38:50):
doctor Alfred Miller. No one knows the implications of this
disease better than doctor Alfred Miller, and please stay with us,
and then we will spend it hour tonight, wrapping up
the week, on the twentieth hour of the week, and
basically going to ask you to tell us the best
memory of your summers as a child, when best memory
(39:12):
coming back one night's
It's Nightside with Dan Ray on WBS Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
Thank you very much, Al Griffin. Interesting column in Yesterday's
Boston Globe by Joan Venake. And one of the things
we like to do here on Nightside is discuss topics,
which might be what you call fifty to fifty topics
where a good portion of the audience might agree and
(00:27):
a good portion of the audience might disagree. And I
thought that this is one that we'll be discussed in
the weeks ahead, and I think you need to know
a little bit more about it, not that some of
you don't know a lot about it. Right now, we're
talking what's called in Massachusetts a section thirty five petition. Now, again,
(00:49):
the terminology on this sort of stuff is always interesting,
but it's a simple procedure that is used in effect,
four people who have an addiction this is alcohol, legal
or illegal drugs or both. Those people are the people
(01:10):
who are have to respond to this. And if all
of the criteria are met, a judge can commit someone
to a civil treatment program. It's not criminal, but a
civil program from up to ninety days. Now, the person
(01:30):
who is presenting or the person who is who actually
you're basically trying to get them committed. They have to
present an immediate likelihood of serious harm to themselves or
others above and beyond the addiction. It's not if you
have a blood relative or someone who is addicted to
(01:58):
alcoholic drugs. The likelihood of serious harm is necessary for
the judge to order the conviction. It's an emergency measure.
It's not a long term solution for alcohol or substance abuse.
The law defines likelihood of serious harm as a substantial
risk of physical harm to the person him or herself,
(02:20):
as manifested by evidence of threats or an attempt at
suicide or serious bodily harm. So if you know of
someone who is addicted to drugs and alcohol and is
making threats of I'm going to kill myself, you know
it's a substantial risk of physical harm to themselves or
(02:43):
to other persons as evidence by violent behavior homicidal behavior.
If you don't interfere before they act on homicidal behavior,
they're going to be in the criminal justice system. So
right now, we in Massachusetts have a lot of people
who are homeless. That is not enough to commit someone,
(03:08):
But you have people who not only are homeless, but
they are drug dependent, and they basically do whatever they
need to do to maintain that drug dependency, up to
stealing from other people living literally living on the streets,
(03:34):
sharing needles. I mean, it's it's horrific. And in addition,
as Joan Venaki points out in her column yesterday in
the in the Boston Globe, she says, you know this
is her first paragraph. She says, this is a thought experiment.
A person who appears to be to be homeless settles
(03:57):
in on the sidewalk in front of my house, is
hypothesizing this and begins to self inject with drugs. Others
start to congregate and use my lawn as a bathroom.
Sometimes fights in sexual assaults breakout. She asked the question,
how long would I or you let that go on?
(04:17):
If I asked local political leaders for help and they
told me they're doing their best, but this is an
intractable national problem, I wouldn't accept it, would you? But
for a long time? Acceptance is what is expected from
South End residents who live near the intersection of Massachusetts
Avenue and Malina Cass Boulevard known as Masson Cass. But
(04:41):
this is more than just massive cass Okay. This is
a solution which I think needs to be used more often,
and I think the implication of Joan Vanaki's article is
that but this might be a measure that would be
(05:04):
short of putting the National Guard in the streets of Boston.
Venaki rights, the rationale behind the policy is also worthy
of consideration. Shifting homeless individuals into long term institutional settings
(05:25):
for humane treatment through the appropriate use of civil commitment
who restore public order. This is out of Donald Trump's
executive order. Surrendering our cities and citizens to disorder and
fear is neither compassionate to the homeless nor other citizens.
Naki Rights calling for the National Guard to deal with
(05:45):
the mass and cast crisis, as some South a residents
have demanded, is more what she calls performative politics. It
seems to me that is the ultimate frustration. Based upon
what I have heard from people who live in the
South End, Svenaki ads that's not the answer, but it's
time to acknowledge that other answers haven't worked. Meanwhile, the
(06:08):
impact on quality of life is unacceptable. Residents are very frustrated.
Their patience is gone. Imagine seeing what they see every
day in front of your own home, and it's easy
to understand why. So what I want to do is
talk about this. I know that amongst my libertarian listeners
(06:31):
or people who think of themselves as libertarians, they would say, hey, look,
if someone is not harming another person, they should be
able to live their life in whatever way they want.
But besides confronting someone and trying to rob them, or
confronting someone and trying to intimidate them into giving money
(06:56):
to the person, there are ways in which the behavior
of individuals who are drug dependent and who are alcohol
addicted just changes the neighborhood again whether the neighbor whether
the neighborhood is in Boston or in Worcester, in Springfield,
any major city. UH. It tends not to occur in
(07:20):
our leafy bedroom communities because our leafy bedroom communities wouldn't tolerated,
and the police departments UH will certainly pick people up
uh and and question them if they're walking the streets
aimlessly UH and appear disheveled and appear homeless. There's kind
of a double standard here. What is tolerated in places
(07:42):
like Lowell, in New Bedford, Fall River, Brockton, you name it. Worcester, Springfield,
Haveril in some In some instances, Lynn, you know, the
cities I'm talking about would not be tolerated in the
leafy suburbs. And Vernaki, who is not a fan of
(08:04):
Donald Trump in any way, shape or form, at least
from the joan Vernaki that I know, basically is suggesting
involuntary commitment should be on the table in the opioid crisis.
We've been living with the opioid crisis now for a
couple of decades. Okay, it's been with us going back
(08:27):
to the twentieth century, it's now twenty twenty five. I
think that Section thirty five petitions need to be filed
more often, and I think the judges need to be
more understanding the way the law is written. You have
to comply with the law. And again, as this summary
(08:49):
that I'm looking at says, the likelihood of serious harm
must be current and directly related to the alcohol or
substance use disorder. Well, if somebody is walking this and
its homeless, and it's an alcoholic and is sleeping on
the front steps of people anywhere in Massachusetts, or sleeping
on the front lawns of people because of alcohol or
(09:12):
drug addiction. I think there is a likelihood of serious harm,
and I think that it's time for our judges to
toughen up a little bit. And I think that also
police departments can toughen up a little bit. I'm not
saying arrest them. I'm not saying put them in jail.
I'm saying get them the help they need. Six one seven, two, five,
(09:34):
four ten thirty six one seven nine three one ten thirty.
Going to open up the phone lines. My suspicion is
that most of you agree with me, and most of
you agree if you read Joe Banaki's piece in the
Boston Globe yesterday. The question that you're going to answer
now is whether or not you have the courage to
join us and let others know who may feel like you. Yeah,
(09:57):
I believe in it, But why is you say it?
Give us a call and express your opinion, because we're
going to lose communities here in Massachusetts to drug addiction
and alcohol addiction, and now we're on the cusp of
opening up cannabis cafes. Good luck with that. Six one seven, two, five,
(10:18):
four ten thirty six one seven, nine three thirty. This
is a problem that extends way beyond one section in
the south end of Boston. It extends well beyond Master casts.
It is everywhere in the come Wealth of Massachusetts except
in the leafy suburbs.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
Back on Nightside after this, it's Night Side with Dan
Ray on Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
So it looks like some of you are shy here,
So let me ask the question on a little more
personal basis. Okay, Let's assume there was someone in your family,
maybe not someone in your immediate family, someone who's living
in your home, or maybe they are living in your
home and they have shown some signs of aggressive behavior.
(11:05):
Or there's someone who you know out on the streets
of your community and they are addicted to some serious drugs.
They're not just smoking marijuana, they're dealing with serious drugs,
or they're alcohol addicted. Would you have the guts and
the courage to go into court. The people who can
(11:26):
actually seek a petition or ask a court to have
someone involuntarily committed for alcohol or substance abuse treatment, blood relatives, spouses,
police officers, court officials, physicians, and guardians. People who can't petition. Again,
(11:46):
I don't understand the distinction here, but I guess if
you're the person with an addiction or alcohol you can't
go into court and ask for help. Seems to me
that you should be at the front of the line. Girlfriend's,
(12:07):
boyfriends and significant others, therapists, and social workers. I can
understand that friends, neighbors, landlords, and concerned citizens. Okay, I
guess what they're trying to do is limit the potential
abuse here. Okay, But as far as I'm concerned, and
you can agree or disagree, we have a crisis in
(12:32):
this country now, and the crisis deals with drug addiction
and alcohol addiction, and at some point, at some point,
it has the potential to impact any one of us,
any one of us. I suspect that the guy who
walked into the office building in New York this week
(12:53):
and took the lives of for innocent people, that there
was something going on there. I think there was something
more than a few heads hits to his head during
his high school football days. This guy, you know, the
story will will disappear. Okay, sadly, the story will disappear. However,
there is I think a story that on this guy.
(13:18):
We should find out why he did what he did.
Took the lives of four people, changed the families of
four people. So again, I know that some of you
have an opinion, but you're a little shy tonight. Don't
be shy six one seven four ten thirty six one
seven nine three one ten thirty. You can save someone's
(13:42):
life if you have some guts and you have some courage.
Just have the guts to call and tell me what
you do. Donnie and South Walpole, Hey, Donnie, how are
you section thirty five petitions? What do you think?
Speaker 3 (13:54):
I've been section thirty five twice?
Speaker 2 (13:57):
Really? How is you doing? How are you doing?
Speaker 3 (14:02):
I'm doing all right. I'm doing better than I was
before I did the I did thirty five days and
thirty six days twice. And Dan, thanks to taking my call.
I appreciate it. And when I turned the radio on
like I do arby night before going to bed, I
(14:25):
heard your subject and I said I have to comment.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
Well, thank you.
Speaker 4 (14:30):
Now.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
First, first of all, let me just say congratulations to
have gone through this process. Could I ask you, because
you have experienced that I haven't, why were you sectioned?
Why were you sectioned meaning you know, committed involuntarily? And
who was it that was good enough in your life
(14:52):
to help you.
Speaker 3 (14:55):
Once was the judge and once was a doctor at
local hospital uh and in the Needham area. He he
realized I had been in the hospital for E T
o H, which is alcohol abuse, eleven times in two years.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
Wow, and how many times you you were in it?
You were in and out eleven times?
Speaker 3 (15:31):
Yes, sir?
Speaker 2 (15:32):
Okay again, I'm coming back to how you're doing now.
You sound pretty good to me. You're speaking, well, are
you working? Are you are you okay? Just you know,
reassuring me that you're doing better.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
I'm doing much better. I'm I believe it or not.
My problems became prevalent when I retired from Worick. I'm
sixty seven years old, and I just need to stay
(16:11):
away from the triggers.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
Okay. So, so for you it was was.
Speaker 3 (16:17):
It alcohol, yes, sir? No drugs? Good alcohol?
Speaker 2 (16:22):
Okay, that's okay. I mean for some people it's both,
as you know, Donnie. So, so when was the last
time that you were that you get out of the
section thirty five situation?
Speaker 3 (16:37):
It was, Well, it's been a while, A good thing.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
That's a good thing. No know, how.
Speaker 3 (16:43):
Long, at least three months?
Speaker 2 (16:47):
Okay, Look, three months can be a long A real
long time. Uh. And are you living out on your own?
Are you living with family? What sort of a support
system do you have?
Speaker 3 (17:00):
Well? I attend my AA meetings in my local bown.
It's a small group, about twenty five people, so everybody
gets chanced to speak their piece. But I do live alone,
and that's one of the biggest dangers is isolation.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
Sure, absolutely, Donnie. Can I ask you when you were
working before you retired, what type of work did you do?
Just generally, just give me a general idea.
Speaker 3 (17:35):
I was in, believe it or not, food service, running
kitchens and nursing homes for forty years.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
And were you during that period of time. And don't
take this question, it's not intended to be offensive, but
some people can be what's called functioning alcoholics. I mean
they can be an alcohol that they can still get
to work on time and do their job. Or did
this start start to creep up on you after you retired.
Speaker 3 (18:09):
It's sort of the I mean I always went to
work on time because you never knew when someone was
going to bang out sick and I would have to
end up being the cook yep. But it really really
exploded when I retired and then the pandemic hit.
Speaker 2 (18:30):
Sure, because you're even more isolated.
Speaker 3 (18:33):
Well, if you look at the stats alcohol would use
in purchases when I'm forty four percent sure during a pandemic,
But I.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
Think people had time on their hands, they were at home,
they could function. Yeah, I mean it was kind of
a perfect storm that you found yourself in.
Speaker 3 (18:55):
This is true, Yes, Dan, that's correct.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
Well, Donnie, first, well, thanks for having the guts to
deal with it. I have a lot of friends in
your category who are doing really well, and it sounds
to me like you are well on the road to recovery.
I hope you continue to listen to my show and
join us on any subject that you want to talk about.
And you live in a great community, uh in Walpole,
(19:20):
and you know say stay stay away from from from
the alcohol temptation. And you know what I would say
to you in retirement. And again I'm not you know,
I'm not an expert on anything, Donnie, So take this,
take this with a huge grain of salt. Okay, Uh,
(19:41):
to develop an interest, you know when it was get
keep yourself busy. Even though you're retired and you're not
going to work, you can develop an interest either, you know,
hobby or you can you can volunteer somewhere to help,
you know, coach, coach little league team or something have,
you know, have something that gives you a purpose in days,
(20:05):
so you're not just getting up and saying, what am
I going to do today? I mean, I think you're
going to figure it out, and I think you're going
to be okay. And I congratulate you on your recovery.
And I congratulate a lot of great people have gone
through what you have gone through. I mean, yeah, well,
I keep thinking about my my, my good friend, former
Boston mayor now the executive director of the NHL Players Association,
(20:30):
Marty Walsh.
Speaker 3 (20:31):
He was an alcoholic, that's correct. Yeah, I can remember
it publicly admitting that he was recovering alcoholic.
Speaker 2 (20:43):
Yeah, and so, uh again, you're on the road to recovery.
And please listen to my show at night when you
can give us a call on whatever subject you have,
and uh, you know, get get something to get you
going every day. That's what I'm what I'm trying to
say to you. You know, I think the worst thing in
the world is to wake up and have some too
(21:03):
much time on your hands.
Speaker 3 (21:05):
Yeah, Dan, you're exactly correct, and I thank you for
your advice, and I thank you for your show. I
listened to it almost every night. And then I'll.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
Thank you for your courage to have looking in the
mirror and realizing that you had a problem that needed
to be addressed. And just stay with it, my friend, Okay,
and keep in contact. Would your.
Speaker 3 (21:31):
Thank you Dan godvice?
Speaker 2 (21:33):
Right back at you, Donnie, right back at you. Well,
that's an amazing phone call. And if that doesn't stir
you to to pick up the phone and say something
positive to that young man at sixty seven years of
age dealing with it, it can hit us. It can hit
us at any time. I mean it's it's it's an illness.
(21:53):
It's a sickness. I get it. You can catch you
can catch COVID at any age, any and you cant's
this six one, seven, two, five, four ten thirty six
one seven, nine three one ten thirty give us a call.
I think it's important and have the courage that Donnie had. UH.
If you are a beneficiary of a Section thirty five situation,
(22:16):
feel free to join the conversation. UH, if you want
to talk about what you might do and would you
have the guts to actually take someone or or petition
that someone be committed civilly, let me know. And if
you think I'm way off base and it's none of
my business and none of your business, feel free. Six
(22:37):
one seven, two, five, four ten thirty, six one seven
nine to three one ten thirty. At ten o'clock, we
are going to talk about Justin Timberlake's diagnosis of having
lime disease. But we're more importantly going to talk with
an expert, a doctor who's been on this show before,
about the long term implications of either undie gnosed or
(23:01):
improperly treated lime disease. And it will scare the the
Bajzadi of trust me on that. Okay, stay with us,
and then we're going to do our twentieth hour, and
I'm going to ask you at eleven o'clock tonight to
tell me the best your best childhood memory, your best
summertime childhood memory of when you were younger. Well, coming
(23:23):
right back on nightside, let's light these lines up. I
get one line at six one seven, two four ten
thirty and one at six one, seven, nine three, one
ten thirty. This is an uncomfortable topic to talk about,
but think about how uncomfortable and how much curried courage
Donnie had to get this conversation started back on Nightside right.
Speaker 1 (23:40):
After this, You're on night Side with Dan Ray on
w BZY, Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
All right, let's get right to the calls. Try to
get everybody in. I promise people have called late. Let's
go to Betty on the boat. Betty, how are you doing?
By the way, I talked to you about a week ago,
and I know you're struggling with a little bit of
an issue.
Speaker 5 (24:01):
Yeah, I'm still struggling.
Speaker 2 (24:04):
Okay, it's okay, you're going to You're gonna survive, Go
right ahead.
Speaker 1 (24:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (24:09):
And somebody said, Betty, you cured a cat or renal failure.
You're going to cure yourself or whatever You've got.
Speaker 3 (24:15):
I know you.
Speaker 5 (24:18):
I don't know if I've ever told you this before,
but there's a lady out of Arizona, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Albuquerque,
New Mexico. Her name is Kathleen de May Song. She
has a ninety two percent success rate of keeping people sober. Wow,
(24:39):
and she does it through diet and that she's a
public fact. And it's a published in the in the
Doctrines of medicine, and I feel as though that I
believe that some people need to step for others when
(25:01):
they can't speak for themselves. But if that situation presents,
then you have to have your big boy pants on
that day and accept the help that's being offered to you.
Speaker 2 (25:16):
Yeah. I mean Donnie who was a first caller. He
really epitomized someone who accepted it. And I hope and
I pray that he is that he continues to be successful.
Speaker 5 (25:30):
Yeah, I do too. And one of the biggest things
is when people coming off of alcohol, the first thing
they do is they go and replace it with sugar,
which is just as addictive as cocaine. It's only one
molecule different, and you go to I was visiting a
(25:52):
person in Detoks recently and all they did was go
eat ice cream, and I took it away from them.
I was just going to stop it. You're not going
to get better.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
Well, yeah, right, you're right. I mean, you're right, as
we talked about that last hour. Actually everything in moderation,
but it's tough. I mean all addictions, all of us
are addicted to something, even the people who are in
the best condition, they're addicted to being in the gym,
and people will spend four or five hours in the
gym every day because they want to have the perfect physique.
(26:25):
And I guess any addiction is eventually tough.
Speaker 5 (26:31):
Yeah, And to give it up, you have to be
willing to walk away from it. It's I go buy
an ice cream stand every night on my way, either
two or from the above. And there are many hot
nights I'd like to stop in there and get it myself,
an ice cream cut. And I say, you're stupid, fool,
you can't do it.
Speaker 2 (26:52):
Ok.
Speaker 5 (26:54):
But acceptance is a big part of the process of
healing thyself.
Speaker 2 (26:59):
Yeah, no, no, no question, no question about that, for sure,
for sure. Just stay well. You gotta you got some battle.
But you're you're strong enough, I know, and you're gonna win.
You're gonna win that battle, and I want.
Speaker 5 (27:19):
I will do that. You take care, sir, that.
Speaker 2 (27:23):
You too, Betty, And and and be good to the
new cat that you've that you now have as a pet.
Speaker 5 (27:28):
Okay, lost girl is doing fine.
Speaker 2 (27:32):
Excellent, excellent.
Speaker 5 (27:33):
Good to know, thanks so much better.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
Good night. Okay, Let's get one more in here before
the break, and then we'll go to break. Gonna go
to Robin Medford, Rob you and next on nights go
right ahead.
Speaker 4 (27:46):
Hey, Dan, forgive me for being a dreamer, but I
feel that there ought to be a community for these folks,
and not just one community. There ought to be communities
established throughout the country. This is a national problem. We
have people that have abused problems and psychological problems. Why
can they not be communities for them, like little communities
(28:10):
where they can live and go and learn how to
function and take The politicians are not responsible for what
they say, won't tell us what they spend their money on.
Why could they not take like two billion dollars and
build a community that would house like, say, oh, I
don't know, five hundred people from Malnia casts and give
(28:32):
them all the things in that little you know, I mean,
start a new place where they have a little hospital,
they have a little woodworking shop, they can get their
lives together. And this wouldn't just be for voluntary I mean,
this wouldn't be just for committed people, but it could
be voluntary. Dan, I think that we have the youth
situation that would benefit from this. That money is so
(28:55):
wrongly spent. They ought to be able to establish these
little communities. I don't know if I can mention like
some of these warrior projects, but they set up individual
like small little towns and communities like in off to
themselves where they can function and be amongst themselves in
some maybe some wooded lake area.
Speaker 2 (29:16):
Well you know what, Rob, again, I think I don't
know if such communities exist. There are there, There's lots
of help for people who have addictive problems. Okay, but
first of all, a lot of people who have addictions
are unwilling to admit it, and a lot of people
who have addictions like being addicted. They may tell you
(29:40):
they don't like being addicted, but if they didn't like
being addicted, there are programs that exist. All I'm talking
about right now is is this article by Joan Vanaki
in which, you know, I thought it was refreshing to
see the theory that she took. Yes, it's it's you know,
(30:01):
I'm sure that that your attitude is let these people
live whatever lives they want. The problem is.
Speaker 4 (30:08):
No, no, no, no, straighten their lives out, Dan. This is
if you build it, they will come. These could be
like uh like rehab communities.
Speaker 2 (30:17):
So let me ask you this, So they would have
to go there voluntarily and they couldn't use while they
were there.
Speaker 4 (30:23):
Right, absolutely, they would, they would check in and they would,
but it would it would, Dan. If you build it,
they will come.
Speaker 2 (30:30):
But what I'm saying is what I'm saying is there
are problem there are programs like that now, Rob, and
there are a lot of people.
Speaker 4 (30:37):
Who are not attractive to these folks.
Speaker 3 (30:39):
Then it's not like, what do you want to do,
like build.
Speaker 2 (30:42):
A million dollar homes so that they could have an
individual I don't know, Rob.
Speaker 4 (30:46):
I have about little thirty thousand dollars shacks in a community,
like little mini homes. Like instead of spending two billion
dollars on housing illegal people, why don't we spend it
on the mal needed cast giving it up and thirty
thousand dollars.
Speaker 2 (31:01):
Okay, let's let's do this, Rob, Let's do this. You
always feel strongly about it, and I very much appreciate
your call, but I'm up on my break. Let's see if.
Speaker 4 (31:11):
Where did our money go. They won't let us. They
won't let that lady find out what did the taxpayers
spend their money on. They won't even tell us.
Speaker 2 (31:22):
You know you're talking about what you're talking Let me
explain what you're talking about there for people who don't
know what you're talking about, you're talking about is the
state auditor, Diana Dezaglio, who wants to actually do an
audit of the legislature, which the public voted overwhelmingly for.
So you're you're right on that point. I agree with
you totally.
Speaker 4 (31:45):
We spent.
Speaker 2 (31:48):
Rob stop yelling at me, first of all. Second of all,
I took you before the break so you wouldn't have
to sit through the break. But I got to take
a break. Now. Let's see if there are people who
want to respond to your suggestion. Fair enough.
Speaker 4 (31:59):
I'm just emotional, Dan, It's just say I know that.
Speaker 2 (32:02):
But again, you're running time now and I hit people
who are waiting. So I'm going to thank you for
your call. Apologize, you have to apologize. Have a great night.
Good night. We'll be back on Nightside right after this.
Speaker 1 (32:13):
You're on Night Side with Dan Ray on WBZ, Boston's
news radio.
Speaker 2 (32:19):
A right back to the college.
Speaker 4 (32:20):
Go.
Speaker 2 (32:20):
Let me go to William down in Maryland. Hey, William,
welcome back. How are you sir?
Speaker 3 (32:25):
Hey? How you doing Dan?
Speaker 2 (32:26):
We're doing right. I'm a little bit on time, buddy,
so I'm gonna push you a little bit here. Everybody's
stolen some of your time. What's your thought on this?
Speaker 6 (32:36):
Uh?
Speaker 7 (32:36):
My thought is that we have the same problem here
in Baltimore. It's an area down here called Pennsylvania North Avenue.
They call it penn North. We just had twenty seven
people over those last week.
Speaker 2 (32:45):
Wow.
Speaker 7 (32:46):
It's an area where people it's like an open air
drug moutfit. It's right as a metro stop. They're out there,
twenty four to seven people laying all over the place.
Speaker 3 (32:56):
Uh.
Speaker 7 (32:56):
You see people standing in there like zom leaving all that.
And you know, I'm to color with myself.
Speaker 6 (33:01):
Dan.
Speaker 7 (33:02):
I got, I was, I had ten years, and then
when my wife passed away in twenty sixteen, I drank
again and I went pre covered Recenters of America in
twenty eighteen. And I've been told every since, all through
the pandemic and everything.
Speaker 2 (33:16):
Yeah, I've been called here. I did not realize that
you had had survived that. But congratulations and hats off
to you, William. And it can be done.
Speaker 7 (33:27):
Yes, then with AA and uh, you know, getting getting
the sponsored us for a long time for them ten years.
When I got married, I just got I just said, well,
I'm not going to be like my father was an
alcoholic and my mother divorced him. Right, And when I
got married, I got married late. But uh, I said,
when I got married, I wasn't going to do my
wife like he did it, like he did my mother.
(33:48):
So I stopped drinking. I didn't drink. I went to AA,
but I didn't have a sponsor, and I stayed solder
the whole time I was married because my wife died
twelve years we were together and U and of course
I fell off, you know, after passed away for like
a year, almost two years, I went and got help
through my job. You know, I was working alcoholics. I
did go to work, but uh, I drink, you know,
(34:10):
and uh you know, I I you know, but I've
got the AA and now one day at a time,
I'm going to stay so it is help, right, Like
I was trying to explain to this guy here in
Baltimore on the radio, I said, with these people that's
not working right, and they're drug addict, an alcoholic. They
come with crimes they just hadn't got caught.
Speaker 4 (34:27):
Right.
Speaker 7 (34:28):
So when I years ago, when I when I first
got introduced to alcoholics anonymous, it was through the court system.
Speaker 6 (34:34):
Right.
Speaker 7 (34:35):
Jard said, I'm looking at the record of mister Twyce,
and uh say, I see everything wrong here is alcohol related, right,
he says. So, he said, I see that you work.
He said, I'm going to I'm going to send these
people prot Rational Department, and you have to attend the
are meetings or you.
Speaker 3 (34:50):
Will go to jail.
Speaker 2 (34:51):
Right, that saved your life.
Speaker 7 (34:56):
Yes, So I think that they're introduced to the AA
or any program at least it into d sto it right,
and and and did and first of all, you got
a d capital so they're don't have to go into
a twenty eight day program like I did. A couple
of centers of America. I will call it the uh,
I will call it the hotel system because it's a
great place. I mean, they really teaching good you know.
Speaker 2 (35:18):
Uh, congratulations, William I got to sea here. Do me
a favor. I was worried about you the other day.
I thought of I said, I haven't talked to Williams
and William in a couple of months, so, uh, don't
be a stranger.
Speaker 3 (35:30):
Okay, Oh well, I want I'll be listening to you.
Speaker 7 (35:33):
I'll be listening. Sometimes those really hot topics.
Speaker 2 (35:38):
Okay, thanks Williams.
Speaker 7 (35:39):
I'm talking.
Speaker 3 (35:39):
So have a great weekend, all right, have a good night.
Speaker 2 (35:42):
YouTube. You go next to Gina in Bridgewater. Gina next
on Nice, I go ahead, hello, oh Gina, you got
to help me out here and talk into that right
into that that better?
Speaker 3 (35:59):
Now?
Speaker 2 (35:59):
Better now, Gine, just put it right by the mouth piece.
Speaker 8 (36:02):
Go ahead, all right, And no, I just want to
say that if anyone does admit anyone they section him,
it's a good thing, because it's a hard thing to do.
Because I remember, many many years ago, I did it
to someone that was older than myself.
Speaker 4 (36:17):
I was younger.
Speaker 8 (36:18):
Yep, you only have to go in front of the
bloods and without them knowing that it was hurtful. But
I did the best thing for them because I knew
if I didn't do that, they would have be the
ben in jail or something bad would have happened.
Speaker 3 (36:31):
So I stepped up.
Speaker 5 (36:33):
I did it.
Speaker 8 (36:34):
I didn't know if it was the right thing, but
his buddy, his best friend, told me, don't even call him,
don't go see him. Wait for him to call you
and he will thank you. And believe me, I never
seen a man with kids in his eyes when I
went to visit him and he did me because he
probably would have been dead if I didn't do that.
Speaker 2 (36:52):
So, Gina, that is such a great that is such
a great story.
Speaker 8 (36:57):
It should be someone that really know the person, not
just anybody looking at somebody and looking down at him
because a lot of them people don't want to be
like that. He was an alcoholic, okay, and a lot
of people out there don't want to be like that.
They really don't. It's bad. And they even say that
they want to get out of it. That they do
(37:19):
want to get out of it. But it has to
be the white people that can connect with them.
Speaker 2 (37:23):
Oh that's great, Gina. Thank you so much for having
the courage to do what you did. Thank you for
having the courage to call the program tonight. I have
one other caller. I'm going to give just about a
minute too, but please call a little earlier this weekend,
have longer conversations. Okay, thank you, Thanks Gina, have a
great weekend. All right. Gina has stepped aside. Dick in Topsfield.
I got it a little over a minute for you.
(37:44):
Go ahead, Dick.
Speaker 6 (37:45):
Thank you to taking my car Dan. My older mother
Tolly has noting alcohol.
Speaker 3 (37:50):
He was an.
Speaker 6 (37:51):
Alcohol for thirty five years. He goes to AA seven
days a week. On the weekend, he runs them and
he lives in Connecticut. He's done so him for thirty
five years. And I give him medallions every five years,
and he puts it on my mother's headstone. He's got
pouring them over there. And then hehow when he was drinking,
he lost his license a couple of times, and lost
(38:12):
good jobs. None of that anymore. He straightened himself out.
I'm proud of him.
Speaker 2 (38:17):
Well, he should be proud of you because you've you've
supported him all along. Uh, Dick, I'm flat out of time.
I'm gonna let you run and we will talk soon.
Speaker 4 (38:26):
Okay, Thanks Dick, keep up good, keep up a good work.
Speaker 2 (38:29):
Dan, Thank you, my friend. Talk to you soon. Coming
back on the other side, we're going to talk about
justin Timberlake. He has lime disease. I hope he gets
the proper treatment, medical treatment, and we're gonna be talking
with longtime lime disease expert roomnologist, rheumatologist, male clinic trained
(38:50):
doctor Alfred Miller. No one knows the implications of this
disease better than doctor Alfred Miller, and please stay with us,
and then we will spend it hour tonight, wrapping up
the week, on the twentieth hour of the week, and
basically going to ask you to tell us the best
memory of your summers as a child, when best memory
(39:12):
coming back one night's
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