Not many people realize how addiction can affect families and friends unless they have personally fallen victim to it. My mother and father have raised me to steer clear of all drugs alike, no matter what they are. They have taught me that I am able to come to them when I am feeling the lowest I have ever been to avoid a potential little voice in my head telling me to turn to drugs or alcohol.

However, with the increasing amount of overdoses the United States has had in the past years, it’s hard to ignore the facts: people are using to escape reality temporarily and end up leaving their families and friends forever. Hearing about and having to attend funerals due to a loved one passing from this terrible thing, I feel as though it’s time to stop ignoring small signs of addiction and even mental illnesses people leave untreated.

I grew up with alcoholism in my family. It has torn me down and forced me to experience the toughest fights and struggles within the past 21 years. My father suffered from alcoholism and I am beyond thankful that he has bettered himself for his children and family. With that being said, I first-handedly have seen what addiction can do to a family. Any kind of addiction.

Unfortunately, it tore my family apart. But without that step forward we could still be in the same situation we were 15 years ago. The unfortunate events of my father’s excessive drinking that led to health problems forced my father to better himself for us as well as my incredible stepfamily. Although I am a child of a divorced marriage and I am just beginning to create a bond with my big brother who was also affected, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

When I say that, I’m not glorifying addiction. I’m simply saying that if an addiction is caught and treated early on then anyone’s life can do a full 180-degree turn and change for the better. My sister and I have grown up with impeccable morals and both my mother and father have grown for the better, both as parents and as good human beings.

Addiction is real, you may look at it as a disease or as a choice, but I promise you it’s real. I don’t wish for anyone to go through what I went through especially because, to me, what I went through is minor. Other people undoubtedly have it worse than I do, and I’m praying for you.

It’s not easy to come to terms with someone or yourself figuring out that you have an addiction, but what you need to think about is how it affects the people who love you so dearly. Families and friends of addicts need to act as a support system because without friends and family the road is never ending, until one day it’s all over and you wish you could have done more.

While it is never the fault of anyone but the addict, people need to be aware and take initiative if someone seems off. Ask them how they’re doing. Ask them if they need someone to talk to. Keep an eye on anyone you believe is going through something so hard that they believe turning to drugs or alcohol is the only answer.

We’re losing too many people, young people, to alcoholism, methamphetamine, heroin, opioids, and more. We need to stop ignoring the signs and we need to stop giving up on the people we love. There are approximately 325.7 million people in the United States and in 2016 84,070 people died of a drug overdose.

Those 84 thousand people may or may not have had the chance to turn their lives around, but it’s time to start letting people know that they do in fact have that option.

No one in this world wants to lose someone too early to any kind of addiction, we all have our own stories, and we all need to talk to someone. Please pay attention to the ones you love, especially if they're struggling and please don't give up.