Doug, this is EXACTLY what is going on with our grandson. He is obviously not old enough to drink, but can easily get alcohol from his co-shelter mates. They all go to the labor site and do a day job, get paid, come back to the shelter for free food then go drink up their day's earnings. Our grandson goes with them and is served or they give him drinks. If he is on his meds (which help SOME with his problems), the mix is devastating. More than likely, he has sold the meds the state gives him to get money though and is not on them, gets drunk easily and then ends up in a fight, stabbed and in the hospital. The most he ever stays in a controlled environment is 3 days. It's beyond stupid and no amount of talking his mom or I have ever done makes any difference. About 6 months ago, I had one of the state mental dorks actually tell me that confinement is cruel and the state would not do it until he killed someone. Now THAT'S just a wonderful response, huh! Oh, the other gem of wisdom he passed to me was that their current program works for 95% of the mental patients out there. So I told him it sounded like they were willing to sacrifice the other 5% to say they had a 95% success rate??? Funny thing, he had no real answer. It is at least a little comforting to hear you say that you witnessed the same situation in Florida....it sounds like you completely understand. Thanks for that!
United States
