Dealing with mental illness a high percentage may be due to substance abuse alcohol, and other legal or illegal drugs. It is one of the most devastating, it can cripple the affected and strip from everything they have. I have my only brother like a son to me. He started very young smoking weed about 12 yrs old a victim of street drugs. He became an addict and once that didn't satisfy him because that's what happens became more anxious started experimenting with other drugs. There was financial hardship at home and was tense. He became more irritable, the addiction taking over and losing control. He didn't have stability unable to work in his life. Our parents separated and my father had mental illness since he couldn't cope with the family falling apart. He was prescribed medication for anxiety and depression the heartache and pain he felt seeing his son falling in a hole and family braking apart was unimaginable. Having a mentally unstable family member due to substance abuse is the worst nightmare come true. Our family would argue at times pointed fingers chaos. In 2007 our father disabled was taking medications dealing with panic attacks, anxiety, and hospitalizations. At one point I had him in the car not knowing were to take him to the mental hospital or general hospital. I've had DEALT and supported my family for about 8 years now. My father finally committed suicide unable to cope with seeing his family  collapse. This impacted my brother even more. I gave him many opportunities in and out of jail and mental health facilities throughout his life. His car was towed a few times. Helped him get social security several times and he got well on his feet. Once he managed his money witch I advised social security by writting a letter he couldn't manage money relapsed and lost Identification card, all belongings and social security benefits. Within a year found him 3 homes. I would help load, unload and he would take off after a few months. It's agonizing to not be able to have them and trying to keep them of streets. The feeling of no way out when receiving calls from the hospital going to be released and unable to have them. It seems proffetionals don't know what to do with them costing a fortune. There going from hospital to prison, to homes were most times left unsupervised, alone, unable to monitor taking their prescriptions. They also need transportation and by law should continue with mental health support.  Now his 30 yrs old at twin towers recommending a conservatorship. Since he didn't commit a major crime they'll release him to the hospital were they treat get him well and back into the streets. His been assaulted,  beaten recently and with Over 20 hospitalizations in the last 2 years recommending higher level of care. What is he doing lose?? He can be threat to all and to him. There's high rate of mentally unstable people due substance abuse nobody feels safe due to higher crime rates. A few times with a broken heart and tears I left him at the Metro link and told him to get help. His came to me how do I fix this?  I'll get stable and get in touch. I love you sister. With his history he needs to be in a home or facility not jail. It's just more traumatizing and the conditions there is many times not acceptable is confused, scared, tired, uncooperative. Receiving a message that he was released with no shirt and no shoes on the middle of the night. Only the ones that been through this can understand the pain and suffering. Help end his suffering, pain, and mine,  and many other families with better solutions. in prison, and hospitals should be able to work with them. Depending on their history they should be placed in a facility,  homes,  a gated community.  I'm speaking about someone with relapse after relapse and years of struggling. When family can't have them anymore because they get a quick fix at a stabilization center or at the hospital and it's temporary since they relapse again and again. I've  been chasing him around to prisons, courts, hospitals, for years impacting my health my family. At times the feeling of letting go calling here and there with no support. He is my only brother my blood I'll do police reports when in no communication. I'm screaming out loud we need more solutions not quick fix and out on the streets were their health relapses and us families can't have them. They don't just suffer we feel at times were drowning with them and we end up emotionally and physically affected. I imagine the cost of all the hospitalizations money they can use for facilities were they can be cared for take their  medications and us families can have a life without years or a life of worries. I've heard they also get released from prison and get released in other cities. His mother unable to walk asking for him. This is not just my story I've read many and I know many that are struggling with mental health and addictions heading the same way. When is it enough and put and end to this cycle? It seems fun to many to experiment with recreational drugs based on reports making them almost 3 times stronger and then easily losing control. There's an epidemic of opioids, mixed cocktails resulting in overdose and deaths. Millions of people are struggling with mental illness due to addiction and don't even realize it or in denial. Weather it legal prescriptions or illegal drugs Its spreading like a cancer, destroying dreams, futures, families. It dosen't matter what got them there they don't belong on the streets.  Theres been improvement but a lot more can be done. Please Sign the petition, Share and hopefully it'll start a spark and someone that can make our voices heard. Together we can make a change.