Levi’s search for sobriety

By Paige Brimer

 My son Levi Brimer is gifted but learning disabled. He is bipolar and I swear something only half diagnosed: a narcoleptic (diagnosed) insomniac (medicated in youth). In his life he's been a poet, comedian, dad extraordinaire, a provider/Award Winning Executive Chef, a gamer, music junkie, occasional dance king, and an overall caring and loving heart and soul.

When he was fifteen years old we moved away from an area where he had developed close friendships. It was hard for him but life went on. Not long after the move, he came to me emotionally and said: "Thank you, mom, for moving us away...." Evidently all three of his inner circle there fell into real trouble...drug addiction, juvenile detention, etc.

He then told me something else that will be etched in my heart forever: "Mom, you are my True North." Imagine that. From the teenage son of a single mom.

In 2018, at 30 years old, he had to move away from his home state of Georgia, across the country to Colorado, following his children there. It petrified him. Though he found much professional success there, he experienced a succession of disappointing romantic relationships. He was like most, yearning to find his soul mate.

Levi with his children Alex and Emberleigh

His reliance on alcohol grew as his inner circle shrank. And more professional success brought new problems and greater stress. Then he had friends back home and a sister pass away. He began spiraling. His first DUI. Blowing through jobs, then relationships. He is no dummy and he saw he needed help.

Last year he went to the emergency room multiple times seeking detox and recovery options. He only ever got the former. He had Medicaid. Later that year he and a roommate were evicted. He was now homeless in the Colorado winter.

So he decided to head home to GA. Near the bus station in Denver, drinking of course, he got mugged. He endured three surgeries and had to have his jaw wired shut for six weeks. He also endured a casted leg injury while at the medical homeless shelter.

After the mugging

Not once while under the care of ANY of these medical professionals (and SOCIAL WORKERS were called in too) did they properly diagnose, explain or offer necessary treatment for his Severe Alcohol Use Disorder. He meets 11 of 11 criteria psychiatrists use to diagnose presence and level of the disorder. He also has an intense family history. (Not me...I abstain...mostly a t-totaller.)

Anyway, to get out of Colorado winter weather (IN MAY), he and a new friend he made while homeless there, Cody, thanks to the night shelter they stayed at, hopped a bus and moved to Georgia.

He and Cody, (who was also a Chef) jumped right into life in Athens. They immediately became roommates with Levi's previous boss and restaurant owner in 2017, Rob. Levi got two jobs right off the bat and his friend got a job at Fedex. It seemed like, despite the whole household’s heavy drinking, they we going to be, financially, ok. But stewing in Levi was the awareness that the situation wasn't sustainable.

Right before the incident that recently landed him in the custody of Clarke County Sheriff’s Dept. (https://www.classiccitynews.com/post/prince-avenue-gun-incident), he talked to Cody as they walked home from the store about suicide by cop. He saw and so deeply felt the gravity of his situation; but felt left for dead. A healthcare system that couldn't care less. No options. No out.

He was intoxicated, had access to a friend's gun, and that's what ha' happened. Impulsivity, misery, intoxication and seeing no way out.

It took him 20 years to get to this state....he needs proper, long-term, residential recovery treatment!

Also, he, myself, his children, their mom, Cody & Rob need legal representation for trauma and damages suffered due to the Colorado hospitals' and doctors' failure to give him due care.

I have to wonder if "medically detox and release" is hospital policy in this case and throughout the country.

Its discrimination against "alcoholics" is what it is. Meeting 11 of 11 criteria under the DSM-V also grants my son protection from discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

It's tragic that, even among medical professionals, mental illness and specifically addiction are STILL stigmatized because they are linked to feelings and results in behaviors, both of which, according to pretty much all, we're supposed to be able to control ourselves....

So, even to the affected, which I imagine is the #1 reason people don't seek help, IT IS SEEN AS AN ISSUE OF CHARACTER.

And though A LOT of feelings are involved, it's mostly SCIENCE! Its neurons and synapses and chemical actions and reactions galore! And here's the part that's key:

They were either set in your genes and/or came about and set during your youth when you had no control over things.

Two messages here:

1) You're not a "lesser" person because of your addiction/mental health needs.

2) You're not a scientist. GET HELP!

My family and I would really appreciate any type of assistance and guidance the community can offer us. I am a 61 y/o disabled legal assistant living on a fixed income, so I can't afford to stay in contact with him in jail and/or put any money on his books. His morale and receiving proper intervention in jail is key. That and, again, having a long-term, residential rehab (with no religious component) to go to upon his release.

Thank you all for your time and attention. You can reach me regarding this matter at: brimerpaige@gmail.com