http://www.theage.com.au/wa-news/ben-cousins-sentenced-to-one-year-in-jail-over-stalking-drug-possession-20170328-gv84sb.html
Ben Cousins gets 12 months. Tragic.
Only way he will stop and possibly not even then. Last chance for Ben.
Up until now, I don't think he's wanted badly enough to get sorted, because I don't think he really sees it as a problem. He's had plenty of support, and after x number of run ins with the law, you think the penny would drop.
The spark needs to come from him.
Unfortunately you reap what you sow.
So sick of the constant weekly tabloid headlines about the falling star .. blah blah blah !!!
Hope he's brave enough to get off the junk and get his sh1t together.
Two deaths in one day. first The Sheik, and now BigJack.
Up until now, I don't think he's wanted badly enough to get sorted, because I don't think he really sees it as a problem. He's had plenty of support, and after x number of run ins with the law, you think the penny would drop.
The spark needs to come from him.
You're right Paul. Responsibility taking is the first step in drug rehabilitation. Cousins was in the media about 2 weeks ago, shrugging off suggestions he had a problem. If he's on sh#t like methamphetamine, it's the rule of thirds. A third get off, a third stop-relapse..., a third don't get off it. Not uncommon to suffer heart attacks, which can be fatal.
Here's hoping he gets the help and has enough social supports to get sorted. Feel for his son :'(
Sad thing is that he'll probably be able to get his hands on more 'gear' in prison than on the streets.
Sad thing is that he'll probably be able to get his hands on more 'gear' in prison than on the streets.
Yep, will mix with the same blokes who got him started on the stuff but my guess is he will get moved to somewhere
a bit more cosy if he messes up early in jail..
Lets hope he gets treatment and comes out better but I doubt it given his weak mindset and the damage his brain has received....
Keep thinking about his parents and picturing myself in their place....what a nightmare to endure and suffer seeing your son destroy himself and initiated by
hard core crims who are still profiting...
Yep, will mix with the same blokes who got him started on the stuff but my guess is he will get moved to somewhere
a bit more cosy if he messes up early in jail..
Lets hope he gets treatment and comes out better but I doubt it given his weak mindset and the damage his brain has received....
Keep thinking about his parents and picturing myself in their place....what a nightmare to endure and suffer seeing your son destroy himself and initiated by
hard core crims who are still profiting...
It's a tragedy for his family, particularly as they worked so hard to help him. I remember reading his father's account of life with Ben a couple of years ago. It certainly makes you grateful that your kids aren't like that.
TBH, i'm a bit over the whole cousins thing.
He doesn't want to quit...and continues to be a dick and is making life horrible to those around him.
Lock him up and hope he gets some perspective back. Stop playing it as 'poor Ben'. He made his bed....so stuff him.
TBH, i'm a bit over the whole cousins thing.
He doesn't want to quit...and continues to be a dick and is making life horrible to those around him.
Lock him up and hope he gets some perspective back. Stop playing it as 'poor Ben'. He made his bed....so stuff him.
Agree, I just feel for his Mum, Dad and sibling(s).
This really should stop being news.
It feeds his public profile somewhat and keeps him infamous.
He hasn't kicked a ball in years and this is in the realm of gossip now.
This really should stop being news.
It feeds his public profile somewhat and keeps him infamous.
He hasn't kicked a ball in years and this is in the realm of gossip now.
Bring in the censor?
TBH, i'm a bit over the whole cousins thing.
He doesn't want to quit...and continues to be a dick and is making life horrible to those around him.
Lock him up and hope he gets some perspective back. Stop playing it as 'poor Ben'. He made his bed....so stuff him.
Mate, I know it seems like that, but you do not understand the illness of addiction. Saying he doesn't want to quit drugs is like saying to someone with asthma that they should just take a deep breath to breathe properly. This is the battle of those of us who work in this area, trying to help people understand that mental illness is the same as a physiological illness... just the brain, not lungs, or pancreas, or kidneys...
Addiction is right there with depression, anxiety... bla bla bla. Maybe if I put it this way... when the ticker plays up, we get pain and numbness... when the lungs play up we get shortness of breath, when the intestines play up we get digestive issues... get the gist? Well, the brain is just another organ in our bod, and when it plays up, when it's chemical balance is disrupted, when its synapses are broken, we get... serious behavior / personality issues.
Addiction is an actual illness. It takes over the sufferers brain. He's not making a choice to be a d1ckhead, his illness is controlling his choices, though, there comes a time when the person has to say, 'I want to fight this illness', which means they have to admit they have it... and when it comes to mental illness we all find it hard to admit such a thing due to social stigma. We've a long way to go re social stigma. E.g. got cancer (physical illness)... oh, sh1t you poor bugger... got depression (mental illness), very, very different story (re response).
^
Well explained Baggers!
Wonder if it ever pricks Worsfolds conscience , captained Mainwaring coached Cousins stuck his head in the sand with both. Strong leaders are more than just belting blokes in the back of the head. Allowed Mainwaring to become Cousins party mentor got a flag but at what human cost. Death and addiction sad wasted lives. Hope cousins gets help but in Perth he is still on a huge pedestal..
Mate, I know it seems like that, but you do not understand the illness of addiction. Saying he doesn't want to quit drugs is like saying to someone with asthma that they should just take a deep breath to breathe properly. This is the battle of those of us who work in this area, trying to help people understand that mental illness is the same as a physiological illness... just the brain, not lungs, or pancreas, or kidneys...
Addiction is right there with depression, anxiety... bla bla bla. Maybe if I put it this way... when the ticker plays up, we get pain and numbness... when the lungs play up we get shortness of breath, when the intestines play up we get digestive issues... get the gist? Well, the brain is just another organ in our bod, and when it plays up, when it's chemical balance is disrupted, when its synapses are broken, we get... serious behavior / personality issues.
Addiction is an actual illness. It takes over the sufferers brain. He's not making a choice to be a d1ckhead, his illness is controlling his choices, though, there comes a time when the person has to say, 'I want to fight this illness', which means they have to admit they have it... and when it comes to mental illness we all find it hard to admit such a thing due to social stigma. We've a long way to go re social stigma. E.g. got cancer (physical illness)... oh, sh1t you poor bugger... got depression (mental illness), very, very different story (re response).
Look, there is a huge slippery slope we can open up here.
A serial killer probably has a few things wrong with his brain too. Doesn't mean i have any sympathy for him though.
It beggars belief that those in charge didn't know what was going on, and methinks a blind eye was turned because the on field results were good.
The AFL should have stepped in a taken charge but they don't have the cojones. I realise that class A drugs are metabolized quickly, but seriously, all those tests and no positives? Really?
Would have been nice for the AFL if it all went away, but once Pandora's box is opened...
Ben Cousins arrested and remanded in custody again. Cousins faces 16 charges including aggravated burglary, aggravated stalking and possessing a prohibited drug with intent to sell or supply.
Poor bugger, his life is a mess and sadly he is probably safest in jail.
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/ben-cousins-arrested-on-drug-charges-in-perth/news-story/8d04cd17483f7f44d9d57112c4113ad7
He seems either unable or unwilling to learn from his past misdemeanours.
There is only so much that other people can do to help a person. At some point, that person must do their bit to contribute to the process. It's just not possible any other way.
Sad story - his parents and other loved ones must be at their wits end - he seems almost beyond repair.
Not the first person to have their life ruined by ice....
It's a cold and stark reminder of how far one can fall and how many chances one must be given.
Sorry, as somebody who has been on the wrong end of junkie violence, F him. How many chances does this menace get? 13 g is trafficable quantities, chuck the book at him, no more excuses.
Sorry, as somebody who has been on the wrong end of junkie violence, F him. How many chances does this menace get? 13 g is trafficable quantities, chuck the book at him, no more excuses.
Agree
Not the first person to have their life ruined by ice....
What a sad, sorry tale. Yes, ice ruins brains but sadly the person with the Fckd up brain usually fcks up others before themselves. Sorry, but this bloke must be incarcerated long term to protect the community and him.
If only our prison system wasn't a revolving door... he'll meet other crims and cycle will likely continue. But that's a whole separate subject.
A lot of sympathy has been expended on Ben over the years. It has made no difference seemingly to his chosen trajectory in life. All I can do is wish him the best of luck because it's now all up him as to what he makes of the rest of his time on this planet.
A lot of sympathy has been expended on Ben over the years. It has made no difference seemingly to his chosen trajectory in life. All I can do is wish him the best of luck because it's now all up him as to what he makes of the rest of his time on this planet.
Its what we said last time though. It seems the only way to keep him (and those associated with him) safe is to jail him for a decent amount of time.
Its what we said last time though. It seems the only way to keep him (and those associated with him) safe is to jail him for a decent amount of time.
Could well be true and it is certainly a way to keep others safe from him.
Unfortunately it’s only a matter of time before we read the other headline....
Part of the difficulty is that the person with the addiction/issues needs to want to be cured more than to give up their current life. There are many people who have a high likelihood of spending some time in accommodation courtesy of the Queen. They know the outcome and really hate the idea of gaol. They have many opportunities to enter rehab facilities, attend counselling etc. that aren't taken up - why? They're not ready to give up the lifestyle that they lead, for some reason. You can only give them so many opportunities...
Part of the difficulty is that the person with the addiction/issues needs to want to be cured more than to give up their current life. There are many people who have a high likelihood of spending some time in accommodation courtesy of the Queen. They know the outcome and really hate the idea of gaol. They have many opportunities to enter rehab facilities, attend counselling etc. that aren't taken up - why? They're not ready to give up the lifestyle that they lead, for some reason. You can only give them so many opportunities...
How old are you Dodge?
These people are addicts? Don't you get that ffs?
Do you grasp what an addiction is?
f'n unbelievable.
Not the first person to have their life ruined by ice....
I don't think his missus is helping either. Stopping Ben from seeing his kids is probably driving him to take ice. It is an enabler.
I don't think his missus is helping either. Stopping Ben from seeing his kids is probably driving him to take ice. It is an enabler.
His kids' safety is paramount and must come first. I wouldn't let my kids anywhere near him if I was his missus. He's on the public record as exhibiting threatening, possibly violent behaviour. Who knows what sort of company he keeps, how he behaves when he's on the gear etc. ?
He may well be an addict, but he needs to clean himself up and prove that he's on the mend before he gets to spend time with them - his behaviour has been problematic and unchanging for too long. He's had scrapes with the law for years - and still no improvement.
Look, there is a huge slippery slope we can open up here.
A serial killer probably has a few things wrong with his brain too. Doesn't mean i have any sympathy for him though.
It's not about sympathy but rather understanding and compassion, for all involved. You can have compassion for an offender but that doesn't mean tolerance. Believe me, I have no 'sympathy' for offenders. I'd probably go much harder than the courts on offenders, i.e. plenty of jail time - the community must be protected from iced-up people, they're a serious danger to everyone around them. I just wish our prisons & jails weren't revolving doors.
The safety of the innocent, non-offending members of society is paramount and should be safeguarded as the first priority. How offenders are dealt with and possibly rehabilitated comes next on the list. If some people persistently offend and are a threat to the safety of others then they should be off the streets or very closely monitored, depending on the degree of danger they pose.
I agree with rehabilitation as a preferred path, as long as it is not delivered at the sacrifice of the the safety of innocents!
Luke Batty should be at the forefront of considerations for anybody contemplating such a decision!
Rehabilitation, whilst desirable, must not compromise the safety of others in society.
Hi Fly
Old enough to see second hand (luckily for me, not first hand) the effects several times. I worded that badly, but I do get it. It is so complicated. It doesn't choose - white, brown, black, poor, rich, educated, uneducated, male, female, old, young, white collar, blue collar, no collar and so on.
The mental health and justice systems do not work well enough together as a whole to help - again as everyone says, it is extremely complicated.
Our experiences are all different - it seems Fly, that yours are a lot closer and more personal than mine - and I am sorry to hear that.
Jon Faine on 774 a while ago, had some extraordinary reports on addiction (particularly ice) and it canvassed the parents and support networks. There is some incredible work going on, but it is so tough.
All good Dodge....
I didn't need to go on as I did, so my apologies.
I'm seeing it first hand as we speak... sadly. And not for the first time... groan (loudly).
Sorry to hear that Fly - tough position to be in. Hope they come good. It can and does happen.
How old are you Dodge?
These people are addicts? Don't you get that ffs?
Do you grasp what an addiction is?
f'n unbelievable.
Addiction is a difficult thing. I've been addicted to gambling now for 25 years. It is a constant battle which often raises it's ugly head. It's more than just not wanting to give up your addiction. It is more about whether you mentally can give it up. Not easy, just ask 2 million smokers.
I realise this sounds callous, but regardless of the plight of the addicted, if / when there is a risk to the general public, family or friends the welfare of the addicted should clearly be secondary concern when it revolves around rehabilitation and liberty versus public safety!
If locking up a dangerous or abusive individual stifles, stalls or prevents their rehabilitation, then I'm afraid so be it because it's already too late if they harm someone, you cannot take back the harm even though you can still rehabilitate!
We need a revolution in mental health care.
There is still so much ignorance around addiction and mental health / illness in general. Sadly, it's often not until our own lives are hit, personally or a loved one, that we begin the journey of understanding just how fragile 'sanity' is.
So important to understand that addiction is an illness which carries with it powerful impulses and compulsions which begin to rule our lives. And there is considerable truth in what you say, DODGE, there comes a time when we sufferers have to say to ourselves, "I have a problem." And then follow it up with relentless treatment/support etc. Many of us, sadly, reach that point when plenty of damage has already been done... to our bodies and the relationships of those around us.
And then there are some of us never reach the point of being fair-dinkum about asking for and accepting help. These folks often become dangerous to themselves and others. Woman tend to internalise these issues and turn on themselves, men lash out. This is a generalisation and there are exceptions.
One of the heinous problems is that, there was a time when folks with serious mental health issues and a danger to themselves and others were sent to 'asylums'... the community was protected but so many of these asylums were just awful in terms of treatment - drug 'em and shut 'em up. In some places -- and I worked in one in the late 80s -- the people with the keys were every bit as dangerous. Then, rather than fix the institutions, we closed them and sent the seriously ill home to be looked after by ill-equipped families... WTF!!! I only know of one psych ward in Victoria that I would trust with ill family members, but it costs a fortune unless you have private health insurance with strong psychiatric.
Until health care ceases to be a political football but rather the no.1 item (equal to education) for strong support, families and communities will suffer... badly.
Top post Baggers. The sentiments you express don't buy votes unfortunately, so don't hold your breath.
Our leaders don't lead, they follow. So unless the population leans on them, nothing will be done - and that requires the population to be educated, invested and committed, and that is a very tall order.
@Baggers
Spot on mate. The paucity of treatment centres and good residential care is no doubt a massive issue of neglect by our society, both of the ill people and of the general public. Allowing seriously mentally ill people to fend for themselves in what can be at times a very tough world is just asking for trouble.
This site is such a small sample of society, but in three pages there are several that are addicts and suffering because of them. If this is representative of our society then the problem is massive. There have been a couple of posts that have increased my understanding (particularly Baggers & Flyboy) - thanks for that.
Two comments/questions - they are genuine and maybe simplistic, but maybe someone can help:
1) Are there more addicts just due to general awareness of addiction then say the 80s
2) Is the decline of face to face interaction - loss of human relationships, easy use of social media (ie generally showing your best, rather than vulnerabilites) and proliferation of, say, gambling sites factors that are increasing addictions?
Also, without wanting to be intrusive, is there anything a common person like me can do to help a person who is showing addictive traits or has an addiction?
The cake is not big enough to deliver everybody a slice, unfortunately the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few!
Mr Kennett decided the less expensive thing to do was to close facilities rather than fix them up! Then years later someone like my Ex.personal trainer, who happened to be a Paramedic in training, herself with three small children living in the area one of them a junior cricketer, had to be first on the scene when a lunatic used a knife and cricket bat to kill his son and commit suicide by police officer!
How does sympathy and empathy help when a political bank balance always takes priority?
I'm pretty sick of the how could we know argument, the I'm so sorry this should have never happened, but that is all you get post fact!
@ Dodge.
Unfortunately mate most of what can be done atm is help clean up the mess. There just doesn't appear to be the funding or the will to try to effectively prevent it. A lot of well meaning people are swimming against a massive tide.
This site is such a small sample of society, but in three pages there are several that are addicts and suffering because of them. If this is representative of our society then the problem is massive. There have been a couple of posts that have increased my understanding (particularly Baggers & Flyboy) - thanks for that.
Two comments/questions - they are genuine and maybe simplistic, but maybe someone can help:
1) Are there more addicts just due to general awareness of addiction then say the 80s
2) Is the decline of face to face interaction - loss of human relationships, easy use of social media (ie generally showing your best, rather than vulnerabilites) and proliferation of, say, gambling sites factors that are increasing addictions?
Also, without wanting to be intrusive, is there anything a common person like me can do to help a person who is showing addictive traits or has an addiction?
DODGE, you ask important and intelligent questions and I get that you're serious about learning more and 'doing your bit.' I'll try to help out a bit.
Your first question is a ripper and it's both mate. There is more reporting/awareness AND there is more and growing addictions/abuses of drugs.
I reckon you have realised that your first question in many regards is answered by your second question. You bet there is cost in the loss of 'community' which is being rapidly replaced by the 'instant gratification' you get from computers. I recall a forensic psychologist buddy saying to me many, many years ago that with the advent of the computer and 'push button results/pleasures' that human relationships will suffer. Drugs, sex, gambling, shopping, eating excessively, alcohol etc deliver 'instant gratification' big time.
So what's right at the core of so much trouble - your 2nd ripper question. We're communal creatures finding it very difficult to live in an economic model full of it's expectations and pressures. Then comes along the seductive ads promising distraction from our sadness and/or troubles with all these yummy drinks, relationship fulfillments, computers, iPhones that just do everything and so many other things we can 'buy' for immediate pleasure.
There are things you can do to help someone who is an addict. But it's limited. You're really trying to help them to admit they've got a problem, because until they do that they may very well suck the life out of you before moving onto someone else. Sometimes the best things you can do is walk away from them! But rather than potentially bore everyone even more by going into further explanation... how about we PM each other and I'll try to help out? I work in this area and am always, always keen to help out in any way I can. And well done for asking.