We Do Recover
Too long we have looked the other way when dealing with substance use disorder. The question must be raised as to why substance use disorder is an issue? As a nation we have seen a significant rise in the misuse of drugs and alcohol. Substance use disorders have been brushed aside as a personal or family issue, often being dealt with quietly. There has been undeniable stigma and shame associated with substance use disorder. What does it mean to be a part of the stigma? Society has often looked down upon substance users stating that they “chose” this life and that they are not motivated for change.
Biases have come into play in the medical sphere often reinforcing the stigma. Stigma often discourages individuals for seeking help as many have experience mistreatment and shaming. Individuals suffering from substance disorder are often treated that their only motivation is to get more drugs or that they are violent and untrustworthy. This has severely impacted one’s trust in seeking professional help. The current social norms treat substance users with rejection and lack of dignity. Assumptions people make about substance users are that they are criminals and junkies. The blind eye in society that has been ingrained has created difficulty in treating this disorder as a disease.
My mission is to raise awareness and remove the stigma that surrounds substance use disorder. Having experienced the darkness of addiction personally, I know all to well the shame and guilt that is associated with this disease. One does not wake up one morning and decide they want to be an addict and come to the belief that they are not worthy. Society and the stigma that surrounds it, contributes to this belief by the way we have addressed substance use. We need to change the narrative and speak our voices as this disease does not discriminate. Humanity is often overlooked, and society only sees the addiction. So I ask each of you, how close has this disease come in your life, and how can you make a change?
There has been a powerful shift in recent years in advocacy work from recovering substance users. Recovery communities have grown significantly, and voices are beginning to be heard. The only way to address the stigma is to shine light on the issues. Silence is not the answer as this epidemic is no longer something we can ignore. As a society we must begin to treat this as a disease and no longer silence those who are suffering. Everyone knows someone that has been affected by this disease. So, the question remains why are we not speaking out loud regarding this issue? We need to embrace humanity once more as all lives matter, and WE DO RECOVER!