This journey enabled him to seek and obtain a religious exemption to use plant therapy.“ I have had several deeply spiritual experiences.” He continued,“ We have to decriminalize nature, so everyone has the same opportunities to heal on a soul level.”
What Hatch and Gregerian share is that they are trailblazers. They have the willingness and drive to dedicate time, energy, and resources to pursue the best educational opportunities and degrees, all for the benefit of everyone.
Algorithms
I love algorithms. Gregerian began our conversation by discussing the overall life algorithms we are collectively experiencing. Healthcare providers think in algorithms: if this happens, then this, this, or this could be the response, etc. Algorithms are our way of making plans.
( Disclaimer Note: Lt. Sarko Gergerian is representing his own ideas, and in no way do these thoughts or words represent those of any police organization, state, local, or national agency. The author’ s words and opinions stated here are hers and hers alone.)
Sarko Gergerian, Lt., a police officer with degrees in religion, psychology, and philosophy, recently spoke at a Symposium in Bentonville, AR, about decriminalizing psychedelics. He was the first police officer in the country to get federal permission to try MDMA therapy.
Gergerian says,“ We have officers in a line of work in an overlay culture that’ s highly aggressive by design that allows for the high jacking away from the purity of protect and serve under the founding documents creating situations that increase trauma load within the first responders to unimaginable levels. And we only allow them to have access to a chemical in the depressant category that is highly carcinogenic to every organ system in the body. You would think that someone planned this out on purpose.”
Gregerian is a police Lieutenant in Massachusetts who earned certifications in addiction and coaching recovery. He serves as a police peer support officer, community outreach officer, and health and fitness officer.
Which leads me straight into my second psych hero, April Hatch, RN. After finishing her BSN and Master’ s in Community Health, she was accepted into the California Institute of Psychedelic Therapy, an elite, highly competitive 18-month program that“ Cost a trainload of money and time, including four train trips to Boston,” Hatch laughed.
Hatch is in her final year of becoming a Psych NP, which will allow her to prescribe medications.“ The risk-benefit isn’ t here yet,” explained Hatch concerning psychedelics.“ Of course, I want to help people. My grandfather was a WWII veteran with flashbacks and PTSD. My dad was a wounded warrior who committed suicide. But until these treatments become federally legal, I won’ t be able to prescribe them. I will work to minimize pharmaceuticals.”
She threw her hands in the air and continued,“ I want people to learn to dig in the dirt! That’ s where healing happens! Healthy food, water, fresh air, exercise, dirt, sleep. Those are the table legs to mental health.”
It’ s Personal
Over the past two decades, my oldest grandson has been diagnosed with most of the alphabet. At the school’ s insistence, he has been on and off medication since he was five. Now, he’ s 22 years old. I think it’ s worth mentioning that I didn’ t tell him about our haunted house or roller coaster theme. His words, entirely.
We are so slow on treatment. It is a subject near to my heart. My grandson lives with a haunted house in his head. I asked to interview him for this article. He is currently 22 years old.
The first time he realized he was on medication, he was eight.“ The pills were a roller coaster,” he explained.“ In Junior High, one pill made me violent. I hurt my sister. That was the worst. That pill also gave me man boobs, raised my cholesterol, screwed up my metabolism, and I gained a bunch of weight. I had to take cholesterol pills when I was thirteen. The next one in high school made me wet the bed. I had to wear old people’ s diapers.
“ Then Mom got cancer, and quarantine canceled everything. I quit going to doctors and moved in with mom to help her through chemo.”
He said his two scariest episodes were in his first and second studio apartments.“ I heard footsteps pacing around my apartment at night and walking around my bed. I was terrified. It was like being in a haunted house. I could not get out of the corner of my mattress for food or go to the bathroom. I finally called dad, and he came and took me to the hospital.”
“ There is no red pill or blue pill, is there, Grandson?”
“ Nope,” he replied,“ but what you all are doing is really good. I am grateful. I really want to try ketamine and psychedelic mushrooms. I’ ve heard that some people actually get better and stay better after treatment. That would be great.” Then he added,“ And tell them all I said thank you.”
I said,“ I will. I love you, Grandson.” He responded,“ I love you too, Grandma.”
For a deeper dive into Lt., Sarko Gergerian’ s story, including the past, present, and future of psychedelics, check out Joe Rogans podcast by scanning the QR.
Dolores Montgomery Halbin, RN, BSN, and Ordained Nurse Minister, resides in SW Missouri. After her husband passed in 2015, she retired from nursing. She worked with the 2014-2018 Missouri campaigns for legalized medical marijuana. She continues as a cannabis reform activist working toward Federal decriminalization through educational speaking and freelance journalism. Doloreshalbin @ gmail. com.
Notice: The information contained herein is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, but rather a sharing of knowledge and information based on research and experience. The content is the authors opinion only and solely for general informational purposes.
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