Post by thardy on Feb 24, 2016 10:58:16 GMT -5
This is going to stir up quite a bit of opinions and emotions. I'm open to hear any of them, but please do not belittle or degrade someone else's.
I've recently become aware to the stigma that surrounds drug addiction. According to some people, drug addicts are nothing but trash. They deserve the consequences of their addiction. They did it to themselves. While the last statement is true, the first two aren't so much. These people deserve help. Just like anyone else! Yes, I know, not every drug addiction WANTS help. And that's fine. Their choice. But there are others who so badly want out, but they either don't know how or can't get the help they want and need. This keeps them in the vicious cycle of drug addiction.
Addiction, as a whole, is an illness. It doesn't matter if it's tobacco, alcohol, drugs, food, sex, etc. It's all the same. If the addict is enabled or denied help, they will continue with their addiction. So, why is it, that some forms of addiction have become somewhat socially acceptable? Tobacco and alcohol, for example. Smokers don't get as much of the crap that drug addicts do. If they want to quit, they can go to their local grocer and grab some nicorette to help them. Being a heavy drinker makes you "the life of the party". A food addict can go to their dr and ask for a stomach staple to get them to stop eating so much. Why can't a drug addict go to the clinic and get help? Why aren't there more clinics available that do that?
"They did this to themselves. I don't feel sympathy." That's absurd. Do you feel sympathetic for your family member who is dying of lung cancer from smoking? They picked up those cigarettes. Do you feel sympathetic to the person battling depression who commits suicide? They're the ones who ended their lives. Addiction is a mental illness. Just like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, etc. Addicts need treatment for their illness. ALL types of addicts.
I hope that one day there will be an easier way to help these people. I hope that one day addiction won't tear families apart. Kill best friends, sisters, brothers, daughters, sons, mothers, and fathers. I hope one day we won't have to worry about addiction at all. But I know that it's not going to be today. But one day...
Please, share your thoughts and opinions. But, again, please don't bash others.
I've recently become aware to the stigma that surrounds drug addiction. According to some people, drug addicts are nothing but trash. They deserve the consequences of their addiction. They did it to themselves. While the last statement is true, the first two aren't so much. These people deserve help. Just like anyone else! Yes, I know, not every drug addiction WANTS help. And that's fine. Their choice. But there are others who so badly want out, but they either don't know how or can't get the help they want and need. This keeps them in the vicious cycle of drug addiction.
Addiction, as a whole, is an illness. It doesn't matter if it's tobacco, alcohol, drugs, food, sex, etc. It's all the same. If the addict is enabled or denied help, they will continue with their addiction. So, why is it, that some forms of addiction have become somewhat socially acceptable? Tobacco and alcohol, for example. Smokers don't get as much of the crap that drug addicts do. If they want to quit, they can go to their local grocer and grab some nicorette to help them. Being a heavy drinker makes you "the life of the party". A food addict can go to their dr and ask for a stomach staple to get them to stop eating so much. Why can't a drug addict go to the clinic and get help? Why aren't there more clinics available that do that?
"They did this to themselves. I don't feel sympathy." That's absurd. Do you feel sympathetic for your family member who is dying of lung cancer from smoking? They picked up those cigarettes. Do you feel sympathetic to the person battling depression who commits suicide? They're the ones who ended their lives. Addiction is a mental illness. Just like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, etc. Addicts need treatment for their illness. ALL types of addicts.
I hope that one day there will be an easier way to help these people. I hope that one day addiction won't tear families apart. Kill best friends, sisters, brothers, daughters, sons, mothers, and fathers. I hope one day we won't have to worry about addiction at all. But I know that it's not going to be today. But one day...
Please, share your thoughts and opinions. But, again, please don't bash others.
