No, this is not the start of a joke with a witty punchline, it actually describes the catalyst for the founding Asurgent Health. I and I suspect the majority of people, are rarely exposed to the ugly world of addiction and the havoc it wreaks on its victims and their families. Sure, Nancy Regan ensured that every time we use a public restroom, we are reminded to refuse drugs, and every commercial ends with the obligatory Drink Responsibly. Between Narcos and The Wire we are fully educated of how drugs are grown, processed, imported and distributed. The music industry keeps us updated on the coolest names for marijuana and it seems like every month brings a new alcoholic beverage with a celebrity named slapped on the bottle. So yes, drugs and alcohol are everywhere, but addiction? That’s only for the criminals and the weak-minded people that lack the self-control to use in moderation and responsibly.
Anyone that has had the misfortune of being exposed to this terrible disease understands that the stigma and stereotypes traditionally associated with addiction couldn’t be further from the truth. I am not qualified to give an opinion about exactly what the definition of addiction is or what causes chemical dependency, but one thing I can say equivocally it is not due to a lack of mental fortitude or societal circumstances it affects every race, demographic and age group, and it is rampant.
Bader-Meinhoff obviously doesn’t cause the increase in the encounters with the new concept, it is just that we are now hypersensitive to that particular idea and will notice it, when before we subconsciously ignored it. This can be a powerful tool when trying to fight against addiction, it seems to be an issue avoid facing and talking about, it is our job in the recovery community to raise awareness so that people suffering can seek the help they need and others can be better educated about prevention measures (such us avoiding mind-altering substances at a young age).
