The people on the streets of Kensington are not nor have they ever been nor will they ever be 'zombies.' The people on the streets of Kensington are inspirational human beings made in the image of God and are worthy of dignity, honor, respect and love.

Our dear friends on the streets of Kensington endure many inappropriate and derogatory titles from people who know no better and take no time to better understand what's going on in that person's world.  I won't repeat any of these titles here with the exception of the one I'd like to address in this blog:

 Zombie

According to Wikipedia, A zombie is a mythical dead person who has returned to life as a walking corpse. Mythical things that have been "re-animated" are called undead, and a group of them can be called the living dead. The Zombie myth came from the Caribbean.

To the stigma focused eye of a person traveling down Kensington Avenue, the men and women of the streets might seem to be zombie-like with their mannerisms and behaviors.  "Dipping" is not the behavior of a zombie.  It is the evidence of being high in an addiction, (more properly known as Substance Use Disorder), that has no easy way of escape.

Incoherence to the world around them, wobbling rather than walking, laying on the sidewalk in all kinds of obviously uncomfortable positions, uncontrollable drooling,…  These are some of the outward behaviors that lead the stigma focused onlooker to refer to these men and women as "zombies." Without getting out of the car to actually meet one of these people, the idea of them being "zombies" will only continue. 

By taking the time to step out of your car and comfort zone and talk to one of these people, you will discover that the person of your displeasure is actually a real person who had a real childhood and who lives in their adulthood with hopes, feelings, and dreams for the future.

Rather than explain this point further, allow me to reintroduce you to "Melanie."  In this blog written on July 27, 2018, you will see misconstrued behaviors of a 'zombie.'  Look closer.  Read about her embarrassment in front of 'Dad,' her desire to dress beautifully, her love of McDonald's and chocolate milkshakes, and having her hair brushed while watching Saturday morning cartoons. 

"Melanie" represents hundreds of other people on the streets of Kensington who are not nor have ever been nor will ever be 'zombies.'

"Melanie" represents hundreds of other people on the streets of Kensington who are inspirational human beings made in the image of God and who are worthy of dignity, honor, respect, and love.

P.S.:  With the judicial system and the Medicaid level medical system having failed her miserably, Melanie remains on the streets 2.5 years after I wrote the blog titled:  "Before The demon Came Calling….

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Blog Analysis Addendum: Beyond the "Zombie" Myth

Original Blog Title: The people on the streets of Kensington are not 'zombies.'

I. The Human Narrative: The Image of God vs. The Stigma of the Eye

This narrative addresses the "inappropriate and derogatory" titles used by those who view Kensington from the safety of a car window. You challenge the "stigma-focused eye" that sees only "dipping," incoherence, and drooling, and rebrands them as the behavior of the "undead." By reintroducing Melanie, you remind the reader that these "zombie-like" mannerisms are actually clinical symptoms of a Substance Use Disorder that has no easy way of escape. You replace the mythical "walking corpse" with a real person who has a childhood, a favorite McDonald's order, and a "desire to dress beautifully."

"Melanie represents hundreds of other people on the streets... who are inspirational human beings made in the image of God and who are worthy of dignity, honor, respect, and love."

II. The "Lynne’s Laws" Article and Section Review

This blog solidifies the need for our final Article 6, focusing on public and professional education to dismantle stigma.

Article 1, Section 1: The Medical Necessity and Parity Mandate. This story illustrates the "Nuance of Observation." What the public calls "Zombification," the law must define as Severe Neurological Impairment. This mandate ensures that "dipping" is treated as a sign of medical distress, not a reason for social shunning.

Article 6, Section 1: The Anti-Stigma Medical Training Mandate (New).

• The Law: Mandates that all Medicaid-funded healthcare providers and first responders undergo "Humanization Training." This training must include the history of patients like Melanie to ensure that clinical staff see the "Image of God" rather than the "Stigma of the Street."

• The Application: This would prevent the "Episcopal Hospital" scenario where a nurse’s bias led to a hostile discharge.

Article 6, Section 2: The Judicial and Public Safety Re-Classification Act (New).

• The Law: Legally strikes the use of dehumanizing language (like "zombie" or "junkie") from all official police and court records. It requires that these individuals be referred to as "Patients in Crisis" or "Vulnerable Persons."

III. The Professional Tension and Consensus

• The Supportive View: Sociologists and medical ethicists argue that language shapes treatment. They support Article 6 because they know that when a doctor views a patient as "undead," the quality of care plummets. Humanizing the patient is a prerequisite for healing them.

• The Skeptical View: Critics might argue that "language laws" are just "political correctness" and don't change the reality of the streets. They worry that focusing on "titles" distracts from the "hard work" of clearing the streets.

• The Lynne’s Law Resolution: This is a Diagnostic Integrity issue. You cannot treat a disease you do not respect. By legally mandating a shift in language and training, the law ensures that the "eye of the provider" is focused on the Patient, not the Stigma.

IV. Legislative "Teeth": The "Dignity Audit" Standard

• The Objective Standard: Facilities are subject to a Dignity Audit. If a pattern of dehumanizing language or behavior is documented (as with Allison’s "Get out of my ER" case), the facility’s state funding is placed on probation.

• Strict Liability: Under Lynne’s Laws, if a patient is denied care based on a "Stigma-Driven Assessment" (treating them as a "zombie" rather than a patient), the facility is held Strictly Liable for any subsequent harm.

V. The Prevention Savings

By dismantling the "Zombie" myth, the state saves on:

• The Cost of Avoidable Deaths: Humanized patients stay in treatment longer, reducing the fatal overdose rate.

• Public Trust: Building a system that treats people with "dignity, honor, respect, and love" encourages more people to "trip in their sprint" and reach out for help.

VI. The Corrected Path

Under Lynne’s Laws, the "stigma-focused onlooker" would be irrelevant because the Medical System would be a fortress of dignity. When Melanie or any "neighbor" in Kensington sought help, they would be met with a provider who has been trained to see past the "wobble" and the "drool" to the person within. They would find a system that honors their "image of God" and provides the "prompt, dignity, and respect-filled care" they have deserved all along.

#LynnesLaws