What more can I say about addiction?
Addiction is a disease.
Nope, I’ve already said that.
Addiction is a relapsing disease.
Nope, I’ve already said that too.
Addiction is severely stigmatized.
Nope ~ said that too.
Active addiction is only recognized when behaviour becomes socially unacceptable.
I may have missed that one.....hmmmmmm
Active addiction is hidden behind closed doors
easy to hide
easy to ignore
excluded from conversation.
No one else's business yet recognized with scorn ~
many, many glittering and very empty bottles in the trash
needles and syringes in yards, on sidewalks
medication cabinets filled with pills ~
most of them addictive or at least with ‘substance abuse potential’
pale, tired children ~ active addiction overrides maternal and paternal instincts
regular visits from police
Or
hidden in
a perfectly normal, well cared for home and family
all bills paid on time
employment steady and a career built
Tension unfelt and unrecognized by the outside world
There are marathons for heart disease and cancer.
Walks and fund raising drives for every one else’s disease
but addiction ~ This one is the responsibility of the individual and the family (if there still is a family) that must
jump through society’s hoops to get much needed and asked for care.
“Why can’t you keep him/her there?”
An oft heard and desperate plea from a
wife or husband,
parent, sibling or child.
People cannot be committed for too much alcohol or drug abuse
Nor should they be committed.
Bureaucracy for accessing treatment programs is massive
needs a clear mind
steady sense of focus and intent
patience and ability to tolerate society’s attitudes.
What more is there to say?
“Stuff that’s hidden and murky and ambiguous is scary
because you don’t know what it does.”
~ Jerry Garcia
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