I do not usually write about controversial topics. I am not enjoying myself right now as this particular article requires me to be especially transparent. However, it would be a disservice to my readers, my friends, and myself, to ignore this issue. It has been obvious to me recently that there is a misunderstanding of addiction. What it is, what it does, who it affects.. Having experience and witnessed it myself I can’t stand and watch, or get in silly arguments via social media. Here are some facts and experiences that I feel may help break this stigma.

Recently, I have seen a post going around facebook stating the following, “Drug addiction is a choice. It is not a disease. Before you stick that needle in your arm or popped those pills in your mouth you did not have an addiction. You created a habit that became habitual and now you’re dependent on the drugs. Addiction is a choice, allowing addicts to believe it’s a disease only enables them and gives them an excuse to feel sorry for themselves and continue doing what they’re doing. You don’t have a disease, you have a weak mind. You have no self control, all you have is your drugs. I don’t feel the least bit sorry for any of you. Tough love is going to make America great again.”

Can I list everything wrong with this post that has gone VIRAL on my newsfeed? Yes, but that would take too long and frankly I can’t do it without being rude. I also really do not see why this is an issue at all because drugabuse.gov DOES in fact define addiction as a disease. Instead I’ll just say what I know to be true. Diseases run in families. So does addiction. People have a genetic predisposition to it, which makes it much more than a habit. I’ve never heard of stamp collecting running in families… but alcoholism absolutely does. I do agree with the fact that every addiction starts with a decision to do whatever drug or other addictive behavior that may be, but often times the choice is hardly a choice. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) publishes that in 2014, almost 8 million American adults battled both a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder, or co-occurring disorders. Personally, I battled addiction to self harm and anti-anxiety medication. When this began, I had undiagnosed PTSD and was suffering daily. Barely living life. I’m assuming the people who disagree with me on this are going to ask why I didn’t just get help. I was in treatment. It wasn’t working fast enough, I was not being treated for the correct diagnosis, and at the time I was living in fear of literally everything. Playing an act during the day until I could get home and escape or I truly believed I was going to die. To say people “choose” to be addicted to drugs or anything is an incredibly ignorant statement.

Other posts have suggested things like daring addicts to walk up to cancer patients and saying “I have a disease too”. I find this immature but if it would appease people I would do it. Mental and invisible illnesses are no different. I did not choose to be verbally and mentally abused as a child. I did not choose how physical trauma in my life affected me mentally. I was given access to things I shouldn’t have as a young girl looking to survive, and it landed me in the hospital three different times. My brain was different. Yours might be too if you wore the same scars I do each day. I’ve never asked for pity… which is why nobody but my parents and my doctors and therapists know exactly what happened. Why nobody intervened. Why nobody thought anything was wrong until I stopped going to school and called a suicide hotline.

That last point in the post really does get to me. If you would ever like to question my mental strength or self control, do it to my face. I have beaten addiction, battled demons, slayed nightmares. I keep doing it every day. I am a warrior. I get my strength from family and friends and belief in something more than myself. I never needed nor asked for sympathy. What this world needs is not sympathy or tough love. We need empathy. We need to look at our brothers and sisters and not see them as less than us. We need to let them know they are just as worthy of love and healing. Yes, people do bad things. That doesn’t make them bad people. People are hurting and we are offering no hope. I’m in recovery and… I’m not surprised I was passed by so many while I was sick. People with addictions don’t feel safe admitting they need help so they don’t get it. I want people to know I stand for and with you. In hurting, in healing, for the future.

Here is a list of helpful resources if you may be struggling with addiction

https://addictioneducationsociety.org/

https://www.nami.org/#

http://drugabuse.com/library/how-to-help-a-drug-addict/