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And we never think we hurt others while we go around our own problems, specially in families. In Addiction, the confusion is intensified with the lies and the fear to communicate what's real: there's a serious problem with alcohol and/or drugs and believing that circumventing around members, many times the younger ones, will be alleviating or a less heavy burden. Its worse. This beautiful article depicts the story of a son's journey with the problem of a father. To those thinking that alcoholism or drug addiction is only one persons problem, we say think again.
http://www.redeyechicago.com/opinion/redeye-addict-father-death-20150519-column.html
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Families who have lost a loved one to substance use disorders, formerly known as alcoholism and addiction, are tired of being tired. Where do they go to? How many times can someone go to treatment? What if you can't afford it? Families are coming out. The pain is greater than the stigma. It is no longer moral. It is no longer good versus wrong. Its simply needs to be spoken about. With an opiate epidemic in the United States, its coming back to the hands of those hurting and they are aking for anwers.
http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2015/04/27/woman-who-lost-grandson-to-heroin-takes-on-drug-addiction/
And these are the stories the public gets about substance use disorders, or commonly known as addiction or alcoholism: that your newspaper columnist or neighbor can provide adequate information to attend a very critical and much more complex issue than a one stop solution. The columnist uses an 'interventionist' (yes, she uses quotes) to offer an educated solution, one ending in 'would you let anyone else in your home do what she is doing?'. Where are the mental health professionals? Where are family dynamics explored? Why is it one of the most sough after topics yet such few professional support sought? Mental health is still a taboo, sought when things are breaking down and not a part of wellness nor lifestyle. In the substance use disorder field there is more attention placed in high levels of severity than prevention or education. Its time for a shift. Oh, and lets stop using the word addict and alcoholic, it perpetuates stigma and is a horrid self identification verbage.
http://www.hollandsentinel.com/article/20150417/ENTERTAINMENTLIFE/150419268/-1/opinion
http://www.kpho.com/story/28123501/az-lawmaker-wants-sober-living-homes-to-be-licensed
And the fight to regulate sober living homes continues. An Arizona bill seeks to license sober houses and recovery homes, placing an interesting point of view on a seemingly untouched policy for disabled housing, which those suffering from substance use disorders are under (ADA and FDH). Are there standards in sober living homes? If they are, they have not been published other than general variables finding support to sustainable recovery. It has been stated that those against the development of more alcohol and drug free housing lies solely on discrimination, yet after reading this article it seems cities or states do not want to close them down, but to make sure there are clear parameters by which to live either side by side to a community or to definitely set out specific boundaries to development. Is there discrimination happening? Im sure. Is it all discrimination? Im not sure, I don't think its wrong to want to find out what are the standards of sober living homes and are overseeing bodies such as the sober living network and caarr living up to these standards when certifying homes. If there is news, it will only bring us closer to attending the questions of the community and strengthening the core of recovery housing.
Manziel enters rehab. The timing with the superbowl seems like a perfect storm of celebration, media and gossip. I guess its not until it happens in the NFL that more attention is given to substance use disorders than even the entertainment industry (Whitney Houston, Robin Williams and Hoffman?) Big noise for a month...did we learn something from it? Thats its an epidemic? That its not only affecting 'big names' but also regular people? The Movie Studios with Hoffman had him do detox (as little as a week), only to have the pressure of money getting him back to work. If they relapse, whos to blame? Agents? Managers? Studios? Now we have the NFL. This will be a great opportunity to see how we view recovery and the time it takes for someone to 'heal' before they get back to the field. Will he get back after rehab? Will there be a time period where Manziel's needs are met before football is even mentioned? Heres to an amazing athlete who deserves not only a short term attention, but care for long term and attention to the family. Oh, yes. And an opportunity to educate the viewers. Ball is on your court NFL.
https://www.bytheseasandiego.com
As society realizes that alcoholism and addiction is an epidemic, more efforts to attend them locally such as these will be a sign of care and acceptance that an illness is not discriminating of socioeconomic conditions nor geography. Thank you Vineyard House.
http://www.mvtimes.com/2014/12/22/marthas-vineyard-new-sober-living-facility/
Bradley Cooper opens up about living in recovery for ten years now, a brave step to letting in vulnerability as a public figure. It seems more stars and celebrities keep disclosing as a manner to let go of the stigma and the weight of the shame and guilt that is so many times reinforced by society. As the stigma becomes obsolete, we commend an actor of this stature to speak about his difficulties, but most importantly his great accomplishments such as the great work he has accumulated as well as his up an coming film directed by Clint Eastwood.
Ace of Kiss 'comes out' regarding his recovery after receiving the most coveted award in music, the hall of fame. Yet another grand name becomes open regarding a journey of life and a once seemingly held stigma that now seems a calling to educate and empower the community than anything else. Thank you for your strength through vulnerability.
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/dec/03/ace-frehley-concert-preview/
And many more continue to open up about their story and their struggle, sharing about the difficulties of recovery but above all the hope for those who continue hurting in still shameful and guilty space that requires attention to its right perspective: substance use disorders are an epidemic and once viewed as containing a physiological component as well as trauma based situation, can it be face the right way. Thank you Steven for being vulnerable and sharing with others.
http://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/music/2014/10/22/steven-tyler-drug-addiction/17714079/
https://www.bytheseasandiego.com
A brave soul to come out and share her hope and message about recovery against the overwhelming resistance of stigma, anonymity and continued belief of early efforts to curtail use through abstinence. Not only are these celebrities saving lives, but changing the way we see addiction: from a dark connotation to an understanding of a serious disease affecting the brain and body. As our assessment to treat this disease changes, so does our vocabulary and our perception to a much more clearer manner to attend the population's questions, worries and concerns. Thank you Stevie Nicks, you are the beginning of a wave that is sharing light to a misunderstood epidemic. There is a solution.
http://www.people.com/article/stevie-nicks-bikini-cocaine-addiction
