Great article and very informative. I know addiction in the form of cigarettes.
Alcohol, weed, rx drugs, none have given me the least little bit of trouble like cigarette did. They say cigarettes are harder to kick than Heroin, idk. But it took me 30 years before I could do it and it’s wasn’t Cold Turkey.
Thank you for telling truth. Addiction is a tricky subject for addicts. Many “Allie’s” will profusely extend a helping hand, many opinions and say I am here for you 24:7/365. Then they won’t show, help, speak to, etc. tickets to the show and they will say, you will be OK I’ll come after the show and dinner. Translated to mean. “Oh here we go again, Jimmy is so needy, why does he need me now”. He’s been off the “stuff” for 3 weeks, can’t he give me a break. I need my personal down time too.
Ok, no judgment on the trusted person. Yes they have their own life.
Allies or friends of addicts. Truly show compassion and unselfish service to your bothers and sisters in need.
When an addict struggling with their addiction says they need help. Take a deep breath, say; what do you need, then provide the social interaction, a person to watch and assist as they go through withdrawal, love them, care for their body the soul will follow. Love them, then feed them, care for them and pray for them.
After the withdraws provide a project of goal, and companionship.
Finally, the stigma still existing today for confessing addicts in sobriety or not. Is real and changes people inward thoughts which then projected on the addict
The, come on in the water is fine for use sober or not struggling with addiction person. Then when you get in there all they want to do is discuss YOUR addiction and it’s most ugly parts on full display. A confidence destroying social interaction. Just what a recovering addict needs.
A bad analogy, hopefully the message got through.
It’s a double standard that probably feels like unwanted double penetration in the eyes of an addict.
Education, medical and social care and truth without hyperbole. These are the moral tools addicts need to make an informed decision to break their addiction or not.
Let’s not set people up to fail. We know how to do this. It does not need to be a secret. The information is out there, it simply needs a trusted voice of concern that will save lives not hasten them into a dirt nap.
Someone to lead the charge of the addicts best interest. Let’s take some lessons from the high end treatment facilities and some from the low end centers. Care for the body, mind and soul. The addictions will melt away and stay away.
Finally we must admit relapse happens. Do not shame addicts after a relapse. It happens all the time and we must be truthful about this with addicts. Again, not permission, but understanding it’s place in recovery.
My go to line for that situation would be:
Just keep quitting, never quit quoting, don’t stop quitting.
Words of encouragement to an addict in relapse. Love, kindness, service, loyalty are all key features of an ally who stands beside the addict on the journey to recovery.
