Qualified Counselors Banned from Helping Addicts
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- čas přidán 26. 03. 2024
- Melissa Brown made some mistakes during her teens and twenties. For years she struggled with addiction but, after a conviction for robbery in 2002, she turned her life around and became a state-certified counselor to help others suffering from addiction.
ij.org/case/virginia-fresh-st...
In 2018, Melissa found out she’s banned from working with patients under Virginia law. Melissa still wants to help others overcome addiction. Her firsthand experience makes her particularly well-suited to guide others through recovery.
That is why Melissa is partnering with the Institute for Justice, to file a lawsuit challenging this permanent-punishment law preventing her from working in substance abuse counseling.
I'm a addict who's been in recovery for nearly 20 years. The ONLY reason I am clean today is because the therapist and counselors around me were at one-time addicts or alcoholics. Why would anyone in the throws of addiction listen to anyone that hadn't gone through it themselves. Someone who has never gone through what I went through could never understand my feelings or emotions. Virginia should ask themselves why AA and NA and ACOA groups work. I'll tell you why...the folks in those rooms have gone through many of the same things in life, so everyone can identify with what you are going through.. another question. Should you take your car to a certified mechanic for car repairs, or should you find someone less qualified to fix your car..
Yes, it takes someone who has walked in the fire and made it out the other side,to reach people who are struggling with addiction. I have 4 years and 2 months sober.
@@roselynn816 thank you for sharing.. one a day at a time and sometimes minute by minute. We stick and work together so we can hold ourselves together!
@@nell5871 The irony is Virginia and many other states actually mandate 12 Step attendance as a part of rehabilitation! There is a huge disconnect at this lady's employer. Many rehab facilities seek out reformed addicts who have training, because they went through it, and they know what the depths of despair feels like. They are better qualified to help those still struggling then people who just studied the topic but never experienced it personally, in my opinion.
She’s not allowed to be a counsellor because she was convicted of theft, not because she at one time had substance addiction. Still unjust, but the nuance is important here.
@@The-KPYou are exactly right!
These questions have troubled me for many years. Restorative justice demands that once a person has served their time in prison and fulfilled their parole that this does not hang over them like a dark cloud forever. One way to promote addicts falling backwards is to deny them a future. Even a minor felony can destroy earning potential for life, and that just doesn’t seem right.
You are absolutely correct. And it is not right, not in the least bit
Rrue
Apparently in Uncle Sam's land - that's absolutely what it's about. Keeping people down, with little to no opportunities. Never about building them up, that's Fascistic.
Everything needs reformed. Prison, welfare, police, schools, ect
Totally agree! All of those things and so much more, need to be reformed.
There’s no saving this system
You cannot reform the thing that is the cause of the problem. 🙏🙏👍💪
So do we give up or ask where do we start?
Vote for policies/ not promises. Vote for policies/ not party.
@@fadingfrost2617 I guess you haven’t noticed where voting has gotten us. 🙏🙏👍💪
The incarcerated system is just business ( money making ) but nothing centered IN rehabilitation. NEEDS REFORM.
It's modern day slavery.
Yes it does.
Try telling that to all the right wing clowns that think prison should be punishment only and refuse to acknowledge any of the data proving their favorite system doesn't work.
It's the same for anyone convicted of a felony. You never get all of your rights back.
Maybe we shouldn't be creating second class citizens.
So then, what's the point of the punishment if it never ends? Why obey the law or be loyal to the State if the State isn't even willing to create incentives for compliance? Never-ending punishment is what causes recidivism...
We need to pass Laws so We could do Random Testing and Tax & Bank Audits on all judges, Congress and Senate
I'm kind of in the same boat not that I'm a qualified counselor but as someone who is a recovering addict and has criminal background you can't even find places to volunteer your time because they even want to do background check. I just want to help and give back and I'm being road blocked every step of the way
If people have no path to rehabilitation, they won't rehabilitate.
This law is counter-productive.
They need people to break the law to keep their racketeering scheme going.
Then the prison cycle continues. They just don't want to lose their inmates to a new life period. Once a druggie will remain one unless the cycle is broken. Something that uncaring Libbies and Rhinos allow all of the time.
Law enforcement is for profit not helping people
Heres what the big book of AA says.
job or no job. makes no difference. no-one recovers until they get honest with God.
Ridiculous. What happened to serving a jail or prison sentence being justice has been served? There's no need for additional penalties unless specifically outlined in the original criminal sentence. If it had been indicated, she likely would not have wasted time pursuing that career and chosen a different one.
Classroom educated "counselors" are a huge part of the problem in this country. This lady can speak from experience and probably do some good, so they ban her..
It should be clear to most people that the ones in power don't want people to get better. They want to be able to use them as scapegoats for our problems so they can get reelected.
She knew that the felony conviction would bar her from many "professions." There are procedures (even in Virginia) where you an petition the state to restore you civil rights. Did she attempt to do this BEFORE getting Virginia state sanctioned training? If not, why not.
@@GilmerJohn The system is set up for failure. It is much easier to control a society that can not thrive..
Governments seems determined to erect barriers to recovery.
Seems like Government wants Crime to exist in oversupply.
She could be helping people turn their lives around so they don't go down her same path, so sad
Melissa, i pray to God that you win this battle, on behalf of all the people God has put you here to help. In Jesus name. Amen.
Amen 🕊❤🕊
If you can't change then what is the point of rehabilitation in the first place?
This woman DID rehabilitate herself. She simply can't work as a councilor in Virginia. She's still clean (I presume) so THAT'S the point of rehabilitation.
The system has lost all its common sense...it breaking as we speak
The idea of just banning people from certain fields without a good reason. It is not like these counselors handle money or secrets.
It's not the government's job to do that either.
They are corrupt, and erroneous.
You are part of the problem. Oh it's okay to permanently infringe on peoples rights indefinitely because of xyz (feelings). All rights should be fully restored in all 50 states upon completion of all restitution.
I could understand people who have prior criminal convictions that could make them unsuitable for some highly sensitive or dangerous jobs such as working with explosives, firearms classified materials etc. I don't however see why a person would be disqualified from counselling or supporting others in similar circumstances to their own prior circumstances.
They are saying that there is no redemption. Keep in your place?
the whole system needs to go
Ugh I live in Virginia. Cmon
You are in the best position to contact your state representatives.
why aren't more people anti-state yet.
Are you asking why people haven't started an insurrection or are you asking why people arent mad at state laws? If the latter, we all have a problem with some laws and overreach. This is what "tough on crime" has brought us to, not only will we take your freedom for awhile, but after you get out we make it as hard as possible to stay out of prison. People need to let go of vengeance and accept justice. No person should be a lost cause.
Because the Republicans pretend to be anti-state, so they take up that voting block and assuage those kinds of concerns. Libertarians are so anti0state that they can't organize enough to win an election, outside maybe Rand Paul. He campaigned here on getting felons their rights back as one of his platforms.
They don’t want direct competition from people with better qualifications that’s why they put this law in place
Who are THEY?
@@melissachartres3219Big Pharma & the corrupt corporate medical "community."
People who are better than qualified (eg. Have ACTUAL experience with using/ABUSING drugs) are not what greedy corporate entries want.
They DO NOT actually want people in "recovery" to recover.
They want them to substitute illegal drugs for legal ones that make the corporation a F A T profit.
💰💰🤑
Turns out many of the these kinds of resources crimes are done by desperate people who are addicted to substances. The justice system is all about punishment not rehabilitation and it's no wonder why recidivism rates are high when people get out of jail, they not only have all the problems they had before they entered but they have even more problems after getting out, just like this woman, harder to get work, harder to get a place to live, etc.
In what world does this make sense ? Who would be better to help an addict then a recovered addict ? But welcome to the Land of the FREE !!!
In Virginia world!
Home of the BRAAVE!
Eight years for stealing a purse?!?
Yeah, but in MN, CA, WA, OR you can walk into a designer department store, steal thousands of dollars worth of purses, shoes and clothes and the cops hold the door open for you when you leave.
@@jilbertb Liar, and whataboutisim an argument does not make.
Was about to make the same comment. This was not armed robbery. Not assault and battery.
WHAT?
Chickenbutt.
Everyone is a criminal. If you haven't served prison time you just haven't been caught yet. That's the attitude of "the law".
Correct!!
That sounds like a law passed by those who will never trust redemption.
The harm seems to have come by encouraging her to invest in and believe that a certification would enable her to work. They should have made clear that she was not eligible for certification from the very beginning. I think fraud was committed by the certifying agency. Since it is a state-granted cert, she may be qualified to get cert in a different state now and be able to practice.
You are part of the problem. "Not in my back yard".
Wow thats messed up. Someone who overcame what these people are trying to overcome is the most qualified for that role in my opinion. Seems obvious to me 🧐 thats like saying a war veteran shouldn’t be aloud to counsel other war veterans! Our government sucks.
corrupt and evil people in the system
❤
Very informative video 🤔
Crime is an industry. Think of all the unemployment if it actually went away. They want people to fail.
If I were the benevolent dictator, the company that hired you would get a tax credit for taking a chance on helping you improve your life.
I was on welfare briefly (after all the 2008 financial BS). The craft store Michael's hired me FT and got a huge tax credit for getting me out of the welfare system. 8 weeks after my hire, they demoted me to PT. About when they got their check for the tax credit?
I went to their competitor and worked FT for 9 years...
Go get'em
Could this woman perhaps move to a state without those laws in place and continue her career there?
😡
Any of us taking the time to read the comments already know none of this is an accident and has very likely never been an accident for at a minimum 50/60 years. Maybe I'm foolish for believing (really hoping) stuff hasn't always been engineered with such sinister intentions. Share these videos & support IJ in any way you can. I love my country and its people. I despise this government and its sleazy politicians.
"this state" which state? IFJ doesn't need to make clickbait titles
edit: it's in video description that it's VA. But why bury it?
They probably have their reasons. It may be a legal reason & they would know.
Yes, but this is the cost for crimes. As sad as it is, l was and am forever labeled a alcoholic. After my crimes but only my proof of changing is not to repeat the crimes I once did.
I think she can still volunteer at Narc Anon, she just can not make a living as a licensed counselor.
But they want people in prison$
All right ... a progressive state of mind . . . Mime, Virginia?
I have heard recovering or people attempting to recover complain companies hired therapists who had no clue about their addiction and should go tend to a different segment of mental health.
Death isn't an instant recovery recovery system.
Sounds like va
selling her the license and then telling her she banned from using it. that's the government at work LOL
ex addicts make better counselors because of what they went through to be clean in the first place
So wrong! Has to be chnaged
Move to another state
Not a good solution, for several reasons.
Not everyone has the ability to move, for family, monetary reasons, etc.
Moving leaves recovering addicts in VA with less professional help in staying clean. No one wins.
It’s a law based on outdated thinking and bad evidence. Justice matters.
Surrender to allow incompetence?
Your strategy fails.
Who better to counsel an addict than someone who is also recovering. This is a stupid law. And I’m pretty conservative politically. I hope my state (Utah) isn’t like this.
For whatever it’s worth, I’ve never been an addict. I suspect there would alway be an underlying sense of self-righteousness and smugness if I were to have taken up addiction counseling as a profession. Which is the very last thing a recovering addict needs from s7 ostensibly trying to help..
Probably is. I don't know, and most other Americans don't care.
What about the victim?
what about her? what are you talking about?
How will it help her if this woman is NEVER allowed to be reformed into a better person ?
8 years for stealing a purse. Men get a warning to months for assault and battery against a woman if they know her.
@@ryuuguu01 I'm willing to bet that there was more to the story. She may have been on thin ice to begin with. Besides... if it were a huge, scary looking black guy who did it... the state would have sought public stoning or something.
This story is an excellent, verified example of how PRISON helps rehabilitate addicts. It works.
This lady represents a extreme minority of recovering addicts, most addicts die addicted from their addiction
No part of this was done in prison. There was no rehabilitation. Her education, employment... all after prison.
Yes. The law is an ass. Mostly injuring the wounded.
Flex Your Freedom / Butt Crack News Network (BCNN) CZcams Channel in jail in IOWA.... needs help !!!! Please help!!!
Standards are in place to protect people.
So it makes it pk mot to help them
That's crap
Maybe you should do research on their rules 😊
Sounds like they're protecting the wrong people here.
Simpleton thinking 😂
It's certainly commendable for her to want to better her life. However, one of my biggest pet peeves is how people think the purpose of prison is to rehabilitate criminals. It isn't. Prison is meant to take bad people away from good people so the good can carry on without the obstacle of the bad. They are there to maintain peace. Now, if the criminal thinks _"Boy, I don't ever want to be locked up again"_ and determines to lead a good life after release, then great, more power to him. But in Melissa Brown's case, there's still the matter of what was done in the past and there are two ways to consider that: legally and naturally.
Experience does not always equal intelligence. Proper training and 10 years of safe experience operating a forklift means one knows what they're doing and they would be a good hire for a truck dock. But 10 years of experience being strung out on smack is not a good hire, as there are plenty of documented examples of people relapsing years after declaring sobriety. Does Melissa have insight into what a patient is going through? Perhaps, but hers is far more emotional than anything else. Psychiatrists on the other hand have the physiological _and_ psychological training that will yield more effective results. The argument claiming "I've been where you've been" does have it's advantages for people who don't know what to think as they go through withdrawals, but if this is a matter of who's in charge of the patient's success, it makes the most sense for it to be a trained practitioner who never had an addiction problem.
Again, great to see she turned her life around. But she could be just as effective assuming an advisory role instead of working directly. It might even open up a new field for those who've struggled with addition. Regardless, even Melissa will tell you that she is - and always will be - a _recovering_ adict, as she still deals with it through "day by day" affirmations, etc., making her a patient as well. And patients should not be in charge of patients. Doctors must always take priority.
Typical. How has that mentality and action played out? Ever glance over recidivism rates? How about recidivism rates for same crime in captial punishment vs non capital punishment.
I'm sure you are ignorant to the MANY countries that focus on core issues, and address them while individuals are incarcerated... Some even teach vocational skills and provide employment, and housing upon release. Which scenario works better for society?
@@ShainAndrewsNMP
I agree the price of a crimes is forever, daily proof of not doing it again is the penalties for the future. Sorry that's just the way it is.
How impressive. The one person that knows everything! You've walked in everyone's shoes and experienced every single issue, emotion & facet of their lives. Congratulations 😅
Therefore being a know* it* all * you are qualified to pass judgement on people whom you don't even know. That's what you think? Absolutely disgusting and shameful.
@@riahynanevamynd7698 says you!!, Who is doing exactly what you condemn. Nice.....!
no-one can stop her from helping at any 12 step group.
she wants money.
12 step groups are free.
do the math.
she went from a robber to a grifter.
I can understand the 'why' no addicts as a 'formal' councilor. Once an addict, always an addict. From the once addict turned 'qualified therapists', the position may help them stay sober, but if at any time, even 25 years into being clean, if the mere thought of 'if I could get away with doing it again I would', then they have already failed. To often a former addict not only and maybe not intentionally, but they sympathize with, overlook, pity, understand, show compassion for, the current addicts seeking help up and out of their addiction. Those in therapy will often see a former addict councilor as weak, a target, no better than they are, ect. While having former addicts in a group therapy for support and those compassionate issues MAY be warranted, the higher authority needs to be of higher reproach, nothing should be able to be flung back at them in the therapy realm. It's a catch 22 situation.
No as a former addict. I prefer a counselor in recovery bc you can't play the games you play with others bc they been there done that and they hold you accountable for your fuckery. And they Kno behavior they can read it. .
These councilors are not really that high positions, you make it seem like they are judges or similar. Also noone will see someone as weak, that overcame the very issues that is to be handled.
Buahaha such simpleton thinking 😂
This is precisely the opposite of reality.
you don't only sound delusional, but stupid without any capacity for thinking or reason, you just came up with random bullshit and expect people not to shit on you? fucking disgraceful behavior
She should have moved to another state or starting working in Virginia for a restoration of her civil rights. I have zero sympathy for her. She is a trouble maker.
wt?
Ha! You must be the woman whose purse she stole!