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Jason,

How many of those people trying to get into Hooper are there for the 3rd or 4th time? I know the answer to this question and so do you.

The truth is that current treatment methods are only effective for a relativly small group of addicts. I don't have the percentages but the highest rates I've seen were presented by Hazelden, 56%, and the methodology used was so flawed as to render the results useless. In my opinion the report was biased by the need of the CEO to show high recovery rates.

Abstinence is, in my opinion, the best outcome and the outcome I would wish for all addicts.However, if it does not work for everyone, and it doesn't should we really leave no other option for the health and welfare of these people who suffer from addiction? That's not a very compasionate position. I would expect better from you.

I was excited when you entered the race for City Council. Several statements I read from you recently have caused me to no longer support your campaign.

posted 3 years, 2 months ago
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I'm a recovering addict, 16 years sober, I used the 12 step model and think it is ONE good path to recovery. I have worked as a case manager in a residential program and am a certified addiction counselor.

Bertha Madras is part of the problem. Her rigid thinking around addiction denies that FACT that less than 50% of addicts recover from addiction. A study by the institution I worked for suggested that 56% of patients recovered but the methodology was flawed in that people who were unable to be contacted were not included. That number was a large percentage of patients and any one with half a brain knows which patients would refuse follow up care.

Her statement that no drug can be used safely is absurd and renders the remainder of her argument moot.

I believe that abstinence is the best outcome but for those whom abstinence treatment fails, harm reduction can be valuable.

Was there any talk of drugs used to treat this diseas? I didn't cath the whole program.

I ain't proofing this so accept my appologies on spelling mistakes.

posted 3 years, 2 months ago
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You are here posting about the scandal. You must enjoy it to some extent even if you can't see it or admit it.

posted 4 years, 2 months ago
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Schools and school funding are not the business of the City of Portland. These are state and County issues.

The city provides no funding to schools. (other than the odd attempt to change the urban renewable district).

If the Mayor and Mr. Leonard want to take up school funding they should go to the state legslature or Multnomah County Commission.

posted 4 years, 2 months ago
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Dave Miller,

In late January early February I saw a poll  commisioned by one of the local TV stations. It was of 500 Portland residents asking if they supported resignation. 48% for resignation 44% opposed. (+-4% 7% unsure).

I can not find this online any longer. Can You?

So many of Sam's supporters state that most Portlanders do not want Adams to resign. This poll seems to refute this notion. With the margin of error, I'd give the benefit to the supporters and call it 50/50. That's about the percentage is see with my friends and family.

I'd like to ask Sam if he thinks with only 44% supporting his remaining in office and 48% wanting him to resign why he thinks he should still be on office? (For obvious reason, I can't ask this question w/o the poll  data handy)

Also, Mr. Adams, if the AG comes back with a finding that  you have committed 3rd degree sex abuse, will you then resign?

And lastly, Sam, did you ever actually consider resigning or did you spend that week in hiding shoring up your support and making plans for your political "recovery"?

posted 4 years, 2 months ago
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When I was self employed, I knew full well that I was responsible for these taxes and my accountant handled all the paperwork. I was a musician, not a financial whiz. It cost me $80 a year to have this done by an accountant. Where was Geithner's accountant in all this?

On the other hand

I've been trying to pay the social security taxes and file a W2 for my nanny. I really want to get this done and do it right. I have spoken with the IRS, gone to the website and signed up to do all this on line. I can not navigate the site or get anyone on the phone who can help me. I am working hard and begging for help to pay these taxes and getting nowhere. For this reason, I can not hold anyone accountable for having trouble paying taxes. The IRS makes this a very difficult process.

That said, I believe that Geithner should be held to a higher standard than I am. I will likely get fined when I finally figure out how to pay these taxes. That will be my punishment. I think the person hoping to be in charge of the IRS should be held to the highest of standards.

So I'm not sure what i think.

That's OK because we have elected officials who will figure this out for us. I do hope that not just Republicans are hard on him. As a life long Democrat, I really hope to see those in my party hold him accountable and ask him the tough questions as well. Isn't that with the new President was talking about on Tuesday? Working beyond partisan politics?

posted 4 years, 4 months ago
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It's not about homophobia, it's about lying.
It's not about sex, it's about a cover up.
It' not about Sam being gay, it's about Sam being dishonest.
He is Mayor BECAUSE he lied.

It's easy to call me a homophone because I think he should resign. You, however, don't know me. I have long supported gay rights in Oregon. Perhaps the editors of Just Out are also Homophobes because, like me, they are demanding Sam's resignation.

Calling people names is not productive. Making this about sex is on you not me.

posted 4 years, 4 months ago
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I didn't believe Sam 17 months ago. I don't believe him today. 17 months ago it was a gut feeling. Today it is based on Sam's own behavior. What reason do I have to trust him now?

When I heard the story on Monday my first thought was "why did it take so long to ferret this out?" 17 months ago I though Sam got a pass BECAUSE he was gay, that the papers gave him a break and didn't fully investigate the matter. I believed then, and still do, that the local papers did not want to appear in any way to be against a gay candidate.

Sam's defenders want to make this about sex. It's not. It's about a pattern of dishonesty and cover ups. The most troubling to me is the hiring of Amy Ruiz. I can't imagine any serious newspaper would ever hire her again. Even if it's just the perception, it looks like she took a job in exchange for keeping her story out of the papers. The 4th estate can not tolerate such a perception!

I have a 6 year old daughter who lies with some frequency. My wife and I struggle with this a great deal and it saddens as well as angers us both. I have reached a point where I can not tell what the truth is. We are seeing a professional to help us cope with this. It is disruptive to our family but we are seeking help. Sam should do the same but he should do it on his own time, not the City's.

posted 4 years, 4 months ago
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I have been out of town (the Oregon Outback) w/o TV and radio and first heard the details of this yesterday as I got close to Bend and OPB came into range. If the republicans think the free market is so great, why the bailout? I think it's pretty clear, the wealthy (read GOP) will be protected from losses while the average American will have their tax dollars wasted further (IRAQ) but the 'fiscally conservative' President.

Can't wait to see what McCain does.

posted 4 years, 8 months ago
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I attended RenFair in the mid 80s and I believe it was an open event then. I know that I was not an invited guest nor were the people i came with. It was just a big party.

LSD ruled the day. It was everywhere just like it would have been any Dead show or the Country Fair in the 80s.

We went to RenFair because it was a acid trip party. I lived up to it's rep. I have no idea if it is still that way.

posted 5 years ago
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Dead on!!! Thank you.

posted 5 years ago
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I graduated from Oregon in '86 and my oldest is 12 years away from college so I'm not in the middle of this issue.

I am, however, a chemical dependency professional and participated in a great deal of drug use in college.

Concerning WWs article, I feel that WW made a conscience decision many years ago to forgo good journalism in favor of the sensational. Yes they have the occasional good story but for the most part they lean heavily towards the tabloids. I read all their headline stories with this opinion in mind. The Reed story was absolutely designed to incite rather than to inform.

Concerning campus drug use, abuse and chemical dependency, these issues have always and always will exist. I feel the punitive approach is counterproductive. If you are dealing with an addict, medical attention and counseling is what's needed and if you are dealing with experimentation, education is what's needed. Both paths protect the safety of the student. Dismissal does nothing to help the student or the community.

I feel that the recent push by some college presidents to lower the drinking age is a step in the right direction because it will bring alcohol use out of the shadows and allow the schools to educate their students.

As for driving under the influence, I feel the current rules are not strict enough be they campus policy or state laws.

posted 5 years ago
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It could be worse. My wife wakes up to Mark and Brian on KGON.

posted 5 years, 1 month ago
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