Understanding the Enigma
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

Understanding the Enigma

The youth of America are becoming crippled in the face of addiction, and no one seems to know what to do.

27
Understanding the Enigma
Daily Express

If you don’t see it then it can’t be happening, right? This is how we view addiction, whether we want to admit it or not. With a lack of understanding for it, denial is the easier route to take. We are so utterly consumed in the daily proceedings of our own lives that we just can’t be bothered with the pain and suffering of others. That’s not necessarily a criticism, sometimes the brutality of addiction is too much to comprehend for an outsider. Turning your head is just easier, but it doesn’t make the problem go away in fact it makes it worse. Put yourself in the shoes of an addict for a split second and just imagine you are standing in the middle of a crowded room, but everyone’s head is turned. You are surrounded by hundreds of people, but no one is truly there. You are just too much for them; it’s not that they don’t care, but you are the ultimate enigma to them.

It was an average day at work in my small town diner. I was polishing the silverware preparing for the rush when I heard the door swing open with a frantic man asking if a Beth worked here. She did. Did she know my son? No. He stuttered...are you sure? Yes sir, we are sure. My son overdosed on heroin, and he led me here....are you sure. Yes sir, we are positive.

The look of despair, the look of helplessness, trying to understand why his little baby was taken from this world. I can’t imagine what must have been going through this man's head. No parent ever wants their child to die before them. Having to wonder if you played any part in their death must be absolute torture. Replaying the last decade in your mind, having to wonder where did I go wrong?

The reality is that addiction doesn’t discriminate. No matter how rich or poor, not matter how strong or weak, not matter how educated or uneducated; addiction latches on like a leech that doesn’t let go unless you will it to with all your might. Even when the leech does detach it will always leave its mark.

Addiction in this generation has taken on a new life, which I can’t even begin to dissect. But as a people I feel as if we have become desensitized to it. When the father left the diner the waitresses continued on like this boy's death was just a little bump in the road for their day. I figured that's how I should act too. I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t just continue polishing the silverware acting like this boy didn’t just die from an epidemic that has infiltrated even the quaint little towns of America.

To me addiction stems off the also denied issue of mental illness that has taken a strong grip on this generation. With cases such as ADHD, depression, anxiety, etc the mind is simply too overwhelming for your average person trying to take the next right step. But we are told that we are supposed to hold in whatever may make us seem weak. So we internalize and repress whatever we have been feeling, then deal with it through the bottle or a needle or those pretty blue pills. God forbid we encourage talking about it with a friend or therapist. We can’t breech this idealized image of perfection that has been engrained in our minds since childhood.

I wish I knew what to do. I wish I knew what the solution was. I wish that being there for someone was enough. But it’s not. To be completely honest I don’t know what’s enough.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

40691
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

25280
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

950882
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

132958
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments