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A thread about harmful stigmas surrounding addiction, written by someone affected by them:
First and foremost: no one (and i mean NO ONE) “chooses” to be addicted to any drug or behavior. Whether it’s alcohol, opiates, gambling or some other vice, detractors often use this to justify punishment instead of rehabilitation.
In a similar vein, conscious decisions are an incredibly small part of addictive behaviors. Past mental health issues, trauma, genetics, and home/community environments ALL play a bigger role than someone’s “choice” to use a substance.
Not every addicted individual presents the same. Across every single age group (but especially college aged kids), functional addicts and alcoholics are a huge demographic. Just cause you can’t see it doesn’t mean the problem doesn’t exist.
If someone discloses that they’re struggling with addiction, the WORST thing you can do is dismiss it or disregard it. You may not be a therapist (unless you are), but simply reassuring them that you’re there to listen and hear them out is enough.
It’s a common misconception that everyone who tries addictive drugs gets addicted. It’s not solely a property of the drug, but a person’s environment which primarily determines the outcome. Heroin use among Vietnam soldiers coming home is a great example of this.
-You’re not an alcoholic because you had 2 margaritas on a Tuesday
-You’re not a crackhead because you did some stupid shit at 4am in the library
Addiction isn’t a personality trait. It’s disingenuous as fuck to those who actually struggle with substance abuse when you say that.
-You’re not a crackhead because you did some stupid shit at 4am in the library
Addiction isn’t a personality trait. It’s disingenuous as fuck to those who actually struggle with substance abuse when you say that.
Addiction is unfortunately a common issue in America. The minute we stop stigmatizing and punishing addicts for something beyond their control is when we begin to solve this incredibly complex and multi-faceted problem.
