4 out of 4 stars
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Ripcord Recovery by T.T. Sawyer is “...a message in a bottle for addicts struggling to hang on...” This book is non-fiction and a memoir of the author.“It’s not about how long anyone has been sober, it’s about being happily sober today.”
— T.T. Sawyer
Sawyer was a chronic alcohol and drug addict. He was addicted to whatever he could get his hands on, be it alcohol, heroin, cocaine, etc. Though he was not a fighter or abuser, never jailed, yet addiction cost him a lot, including getting kicked out of the University Honors program. The funny thing is that he was an addiction counselor. So how did he fall into this pit of addiction? He sobered up in 1987, was clean and sober till 2010 (22 years) during which he got two degrees - Bachelor of Science in Social Sciences and Masters of Science in Business, got married twice and sired two wonderful children, had three careers. Then he relapsed and got arrested for public intoxication in 2012. In 2013, after another year, he did it again, and this drove him to eagerly find a solution to his conundrum. I think the solution to being free from addiction first begins with a willing determination to forgo the addiction and abstain.
At age 22, Sawyer rejected all drugs prescribed to him. At age 47, he had variety of medicines prescribed to him by different doctors, yet none proved any positive effect. He acknowledged that just talking, prayer and meditation won’t be enough to change him. Addiction wounds the soul. It’s like a soul cancer that eats up the individual from the inside. What addicts really need is healing of the soul. That’s what Sawyer was searching for because he had gotten to the bottom, he was losing his family and everything.
Sawyer got clues to his survival formula from different fields such as philosophy, poetry, physics, chemistry, even movies. Though he had the zeal, he had one major problem — lack of will power to resist — that was his dilemma. Science cannot give one the will power to say, “No!” He knew from his experiences that he was his own worst enemy. So he sought for a path forward and the power to get there. He was determined to break through this snare of addiction that was pulling him into the valley of death. The rehab could not help his situation. He needed a permanent way out of a feeling that could still come up after two decades without even a drink.
Somehow, Sawyer came across medical marijuana and began to research on it. He discovered it was used to treat several ailments in the past. So he told his doctors and sponsors about it, but they didn’t approve. Nevertheless, he took the unknown road as he was on the verge of losing everything and nothing was working for him. What other option did he have?
Sawyer neglected to explain the concept of medical marijuana. It's crucial to clarify this issue of medical marijuana. On the subject matter, Wikipedia explains,
It is imperative to know that the difference between ‘medical marijuana’ and ‘natural marijuana’ is that the psychoactive component known as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which is the chemical substance that changes brain functions and results in emotional and behavioral alterations, is extracted so that one could consume the processed marijuana without getting intoxicated. In this light, I think, Sawyer’s Ripcord Recovery makes sense. He didn’t smoke it; he vaporized it. This gives his work good credibility. I won’t be mistaken to say Sawyer is a genius.Medical cannabis or medical marijuana is cannabis and cannabinoids that are recommended by doctors for their patients. The use of cannabis as medicine has not been rigorously tested due to production restrictions and other governmental regulations. Limited evidence suggests cannabis can reduce nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy, improve appetite in people with HIV/AIDS, and reduce chronic pain and muscle spasms.
Sawyer’s idea of using medical marijuana cum meditation exercise is just creative and amazing. Though Sawyer’s approach may be somewhat awkward and illegal in some way, it worked for him, as goes the saying, “one man’s food is another man’s poison.” Sawyer stated, “God invented marijuana. Maybe this plant isn’t the demon seed I was raised to believe it was.” I concur to that. Marijuana was also created by God. God gave mankind the herbs of the field for consumption. The fact that marijuana is being abused does not make it evil, but the manner in which it is used. It is said that when the purpose of a thing is not known, abuse is inevitable. At some point, Sawyer was scared being the patient and his own doctor. Based on Sawyer’s Ripcord Recovery , I think it’s high time the government researches further on marijuana and discover the good it can offer to mankind rather than just declare it illegal.
I love the way Sawyer asked himself curious questions which helped him to develop his theory. I like how he tried to figure it all-out using Einstein’s formula and how he used business terms to gain core understanding. I also like the fact that Sawyer provided guidelines and cautions for his method of cannabis use. He clearly stated that he gets medical marijuana legally and avoids breaking the law. Above all, I love the fact that Sawyer acknowledged the personality and role of God, despite all he went through.
However, I noticed few typographical errors such as wrong spelling (e.g. endocannabanoids instead of endocannabinoids) and a missing word. Sawyer’s negligence to state the extraction of the THC component from natural marijuana for medical purpose is what I would call a negligent error, because it would have greatly minimized criticism as readers would have a proper understanding of the concept and approach. Notwithstanding, these errors do not diminish the credibility of Sawyer’s Ripcord Recovery .
Addicts seeking for hope and a way out may find this book really helpful, either to use Sawyer’s ripcord or to find their own ripcord. Likewise, those who would like to increase their knowledge base and help others will appreciate this book. Medical practitioners and scientists could develop Sawyer’s approach to improve the science world and provide hope for addicts. On this note, I give Sawyer’s Ripcord Recovery a 4 out of 4 stars . The book has a perfect end. Sawyer has been sober for over four years now and is currently a successful corporate executive having been with the same company for over 20 years (in good standing).
Are you an addict?
Do you know any addict you would like to help out of that pit?
Are you curious about the mystery of addiction and what addicts go through?
Are you going through some tough situations that seem to be getting worse each day and you ask yourself, “where is God?”
Then you need to get this book. Quite a lot loaded in this small-big book. You don’t necessarily have to be an addict to get this book. Ripcord Recovery is an epitome of knowledge that will expose you to some mysteries, not only on addiction, but virtually whatever you are going through. I strongly recommend this book to all.
P.S.: T.T. Sawyer is the pseudonym of the author. All other facts stated in the book remain true.
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Ripcord Recovery
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