Pieces of my puzzle

Part of my story is that in my active addiction I broke many laws and paid many prices for them. One of the biggest is the scars on my permanent record for each crime I paid a price for. I am working to clean that part of my past up. In that regard I have reached out to people who used to hold me accountable in my community. One of the most influential authorities whether she knew it or not was a parole officer I once was under charge of named Jennifer. I recently contacted her regarding this project. Yesterday I received correspondence from her with the following letter attached.

This is a letter she has prepared on my behalf in order to attach to a governors pardon application.

“Dear Governor Beshear,

I am writing to you today with the utmost sincerity and conviction to recommend a full pardon for Michael Deno, a remarkable individual who has transformed his life through the power of recovery and redemption.

I have known Michael for many years, first as his Social Service Clinician and then as his Probation and Parole Officer. During those challenging times, I witnessed firsthand the grip that addiction had on his life. He struggled with opiates and methamphetamine, which led to the breakdown of his family relationships, his inability to maintain employment, and a life entangled in criminal activities. The last time I saw him, he was being arrested for a probation violation related to a drug charge, and it was heart-wrenching to witness his downward spiral.

However, the Michael Deno that I now know is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. He has been sober and in active recovery for an impressive 9 years, and the changes he has undergone are truly remarkable. Michael has mended his relationships with his wife and four children, and he is actively involved in his local church, River of Life, where he has fostered a deep, personal relationship with God.

In the years since his last interaction with the justice system, Michael has accomplished so much. He is currently a student at Shawnee Community College, where he was elected Student Trustee and is a member of the prestigious Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, as well as the Student Support Services (SSS) and Esports programs. Additionally, he volunteers at the local Food Bank, where he was once a client, and he is on the cusp of earning his Associate of Applied Science Degree in Computer Systems and Security Specialist.

But perhaps the most remarkable aspect of Michael's journey is his desire to help others who are struggling with addiction. He is in the process of establishing his own non-profit organization, The House of Care, with the aim of guiding others down the path of recovery and redemption that he has trodden.

Governor Beshear, I firmly believe that Michael Deno is a shining example of what is possible when someone is given the chance to turn their life around. He has worked tirelessly to make amends, to better himself, and to become a productive, contributing member of society. His story is one of hope, resilience, and the transformative power of recovery.

I humbly implore you to consider granting Michael Deno a full pardon. He has more than earned this opportunity to move forward with his life, free from the burden of his past mistakes. I truly believe that this act of clemency would not only be a testament to Michael's unwavering commitment to his own rehabilitation, but it would also send a powerful message of hope and second chances to all those who are battling addiction.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I stand ready to provide any additional information or support that may be helpful in your decision-making process.

Sincerely,

(hidden Name)

Retired KY State Employee 2020”

Becoming, more.

I entered Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society at my school over a year ago hoping to achieve some extra scholarship money. Along the path of my first year, I grew into a project managing leader. Even attained the office of vice president of my local chapter. Then in August of last year a traumatizing family event left me homeless for a month without resources or traditional avenues to turn to for help. Instead I leaned into PTK. I reached out to my PTK advisor. He helped me like a father to acquire the resources to take care of myself while I suffered through my plite. Then he gave me an opportunity by asking me to help him recruit new members. That was exactly what I needed at the moment. It showed me no matter what was going on in life, my story my voice had worth. So I dug in and doubled down on PTK.

I spent the rest of that semester volunteering at every possible opportunity even getting my four children to come on days I had no sitter.

The support I received from my PTK chapter during that month was crucial in my academic survival. As time went by I got to know our other leaders more before our biggest event of the year the #catalyst2024 event in Orlando Florida. This is our international convention where thousands come from all over the world.

Great new heights

A week ago I over come the fear of heights by getting on a plane for the first time ever. In two days I will face my well hidden fear of public speaking I will be standing in front of 200 people i have never met and asking for their support in a very grand fashion after flying half way across the country. As I write this speech and keep saying, "You got this, you belong here", I am reminded by the words of someone who cares rescently reminding me that, "unlike in my past I didn't cheat or con my way here it was a whole lot of hard work". We really do recover yal it works if you work it I swear. My God is so good

Where I am today. 3/21/24

10 years ago I was in a treatment Center Convicted of two felonies dreaming that someday I might Just be sober enough to see my kid grow up.
Much less the dream I would have by the time I got out of there of being able to be an educator of some sort Someday? Today I'm at my school 3 semesters in at 8 o'clock at night. Not because I'm done something wrong. Not because I'm doing something wrong like I would have been 20 years ago in high school instead. I'm here at a board meeting because I've been elected by my student body to represent them. I could have never imagined along the path of trying to become an educator. That I would find Myself here today. My plan was to be a teacher that I can help. People understand why there was an x in the middle of that math problem. But my God, he does powerful things with your plans when you give them to him.
Now I'm sitting next to the people who are telling the educators how they're gonna educate in this building Casting a vote on behalf of the students.

Progress

Big shout on to our thehouseofcare.net first client Christopher Duncan completed his application to college today. Did most of the work himself. Super excited to be given an opportunity to help someone who once helped me so much. Sign up is just the beginning though an associates degree takes time and work. Just like recovery you get out what you put in. You got this man.

#thehouseofcarecares

Sick America

Sick America

By Mike Deno

Written December 12, 2023

            America is sick as a nation. Fentanyl and gun violence are killing our kids, and crime is rampant in communities once thought of as “too rural to be touched”. What do we do when we are sick, tell mom ask her what to do. Well, if you ask any room of parents or community leaders across the country what the biggest problems in their communities are, and you ring the same answers across the board, crime, drugs, childhood abuse and neglect. These are very real very big problems. All of which, create their own spiraling fallout when left unchecked. Surprisingly enough, in research, they all seem connected too.  I dare say that if they are all related can we not treat all with one solution.

Let’s first look at the most important the children. The leading government website of these matters, SAMHSA.GOV tells us clearly, “Children having a parent with an SUD are at risk of experiencing direct effects, such as parental abuse or neglect, or indirect effects, such as fewer household resources.” So, actively addicted parents produce children which have lower chances of success. That is not all of the problem though. The Children and Family Research Center of Illinois released a report in May of 2002 which says, “Adults with substance abuse problems are more than twice as likely as their counterparts to abuse or neglect their children.” This same report goes on to state, “Substance abuse is a pervasive, devastating problem in contemporary society that affects all sectors of the population. Subsequently, substance abuse is one of the most serious issues facing children and families.” It seems clear to me at this point that If we can get parents clean and sober and keep them that way, we stand to improve one of the “most serious issues facing children and families”.

Next, let’s take a look at the concept of crime as a whole.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) says, “The substantial prison population in the United States is strongly connected to drug-related offenses. While the exact rates of inmates with substance use disorders (SUDs) is difficult to measure, some research shows that an estimated 65% percent of the United States prison population has an active SUD. Another 20% percent did not meet the official criteria for an SUD, but were under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of their crime.”  So, 65% of incarcerated people in American are confirmed addicts and another 20% were definitely under the influence during commission of their crimes. Those are clear and staggering numbers. Which seem to point at addiction as the underlying greater issue to be treated.

            Finally, lets discuss addiction. The national Library of Medicine houses an article that seems to give us a solution, simply by pointing out a key connection.

The article details, ”Relapse is highest among addicts who have less education and who report lower grades is a factor that can be useful when considering treatment type and controlled for when comparing treatment outcomes.” One more time, “relapse is greatest among those with less education”. So, is this not the answer, educate the addicts about more than just addiction, and theoretically would that not reduce relapse rates and thereby reduce crime related to addiction such as thefts and child maltreatment?

On that note I must point out I am not the first person to have such a thought. In fact, in 2012 president Borack Obama had a similar thought and was so motivated to prove the theory he commissioned a massively funded project to span three to five years. The results of that study held by Emory University are more than clear:

“Our research has shown recidivism rates are inversely proportional to a released prisoner’s level of education. A study by Emory University found that:

·        Ex-offenders who complete some high school courses have recidivism rates of around 55 percent.

·        Vocational training cut recidivism to approximately 30 percent.

·        An associate degree drops the rate to 13.7 percent.

·        A bachelor’s degree reduces it to 5.6 percent.

·        A master’s degree brings recidivism to 0 percent.”

 Wow, zero percent of return after achieving a master’s degree. That is the most powerful number I have ever seen.

            To recap, we have learned that Nearly 85% of incarcerated people in America are either admitted active SUD, or were affected by such during commission of their crimes. Then we learned that actively using addicts are more than twice as likely to abuse or neglect their children than their non actively using counterparts. Finally, we have a clear solution to all these problems in a simple thought furthered education and support. This is such a simple concept that is exists for domestic violence victims or sex crime victims even soldiers have dedicated support and educational programs designed to make sure they can find success after coming home. Yet today there is no real organization outside of a school church or recovery center that is trying to help ensure long term success among addicts in recovery by offering support services programs and presenting education as a long-term solution.

            Today I present to you a solution that has real potential to not just do all of this locally but when replicated is can quickly be spread all across this country. Healing our nation and building brighter future for our children one Recovering family at a time.

The House Of Care. A Community Outreach and Recovery Support Resource Center.

Sources

SAMHSA

https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/report_3223/ShortReport-3223.html

NIDA

https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/criminal-justice#:~:text=The%20substantial%20prison%20population%20in,population%20has%20an%20active%20SUD.

Illinois Children and Family Research Center

https://cfrc.illinois.edu/pubs/bf_20020501_ParentalSubstanceAbuseAndChildMaltreatment.pdf

The National library of medicine

Blum, K., Schoenthaler, S. J., Oscar-Berman, M., Giordano, J., Madigan, M. A., Braverman, E. R., & Han, D. (2014). Drug abuse relapse rates linked to level of education: can we repair hypodopaminergic-induced cognitive decline with nutrient therapy?. The Physician and sportsmedicine, 42(2), 130–145. https://doi.org/10.3810/psm.2014.05.2065

Obama study

https://federalcriminaldefenseattorney.com/prison-education-facts/prison-education-reduces-recidivism/

Our Founders Story

When I was born, I was blue. Oxygen had been cut off to me for several moments. Immediately upon entering this earth I was struggling to survive. Within the first year, I was in the hospital three times with pneumonia, and even more for seizures. As early as preschool the talks began. Statements like, “He's out of control you need to get this boy put on medicine”, became commonplace quickly. Until, I was seven years old when I received my first prescription of amphetamines. Ritalin, they called it. Nobody knew there was a trauma at age six which likely led to that behavior which they were now trying to control with powerful narcotics. Never the less it was that prescription which left me crippled by the time I flipped my dad’s truck when at age 17. Of course, this led to my first prescription of opiates. It’s standard treatment for osteoarthritis. The truck wreck x-rays revealed at age 17 I had the spine of a 50yr old. Still, I say crippled not because of this diagnosis, but instead because my brain was already chemically dependent on stimulants. The doctors had unwittingly created an addict by soaking my brain in amphetamines for a decade, and then sprinkling on a little opiate on top for the pain, which  I’m so obviously in.

I spent my entire life after that until about 9 years ago, trying to just barely not overdose, and doing whatever it took to achieve that. My transgressions against society are great, and I am grateful that the prices I have paid for them have been high. Even more grateful for the prices that could never be high enough. February 12th, 2015 my son answered the door and happily led law enforcement officials to his daddy in the bathroom. I taught him police help people so, why would he not. That was the day my life started down the path which led me here with all of you.

Today, I am grateful to be his father. Today, I am grateful to also be "Daddy" to three amazing young women, and husband to powerhouse of a woman. Today, I am grateful to be an addict nearly nine years clean from meth and opiates. Today, I am honored to have been allowed an opportunity to serve the community, which I spent so long harming as an ex-drug trafficker. Today, I stand  enlightened by the over 3 years I have spent in the darkness of institutions throughout my life. Today I am inspired by all the traumatic life events which My Christian GOD has guided me through in order to forge a force that intends to change this world on several levels. After all, without the darkness you cannot appreciate the light.

Every horrible story I have lived, is one which millions of other people share, Sadly, in most cases, EVERY one of those people believe deeply that they are alone in this struggle, at least I know I sure did. In recovery, It is the stories of others and service to others that keep you clean. They keep you growing and moving forward in life.

 For far too long addicts have been discarded as less than good enough. I need to change that norm. I want to assault the rate of recidivism and relapse in this country. Why not, I have beaten most of them myself. When you consider my disabilities, it has been no small feet. If I can then, so too can EVERY addict out there, given the right support and tools, at the right time. The AA big book taught me, “nothing happens in God's world by mistake”.

 The opportunities which have been afforded to me recently have not just changed my life, but will continue on as I move forward to help change the lives of countless others.  Today let your flaws be badges in the story you live. Those badges of honor are the power you should use to help others.

High? or Low?

This poem came to me from life experience while i was in treatment it tells a little piece of my story.

High! Or Low?

Written by michael deno

10/08/15

Rush of heat, in my veins,

Always acting, very strange,

Crashing out, on the couch,

Becoming, Oscar the Grouch.

Game systems, all sold for more.

Police are constantly, knocking at my door,

All sorts of trust, broken and lost,

Risking life daily, despite the cost.

Homes destroyed, and then discarded,

Children hungry, and left broken hearted,

I've missed birthdays, and many other milestones.

Ninety on the freeway, swerving in and out of cones!

My teeth look like they've been painted,

Lives contaminated and badly tainted,

Lost and broken now addicted,

Busted arrested and CONVICTED!

Sentenced, shipped, and finally treated,

Changed forever, but not defeated...

Is high on drugs, high, or is it low? For me, this high, has taken Me, lower, than I Ever, thought I could go.