Addiction: Everybody Hurts
"You can a lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink." When it comes to addiction, I've learned that you can't even lead the horse to water. Recently, an individual close to me has relapsed. He/she lost their job as a result of going back on drugs. When you find drug paraphernalia hidden among their personal items, it isn't theirs. Drug addicts live in a world that is built on a foundation of lies. They lie to themselves about their addiction, after all it wasn't going to happen to them. When he/she finally accepts their dependence on a drug, he/she goes to great lengths to hide the addiction.
I've seen and heard a plethora of stories about addiction. It's the problem that happens to other people until someone close to you falls victim.
You can only hide it for so long before the drug catches up with your body, behaviors, and actions. The addict doesn't accept this notion. He/she thinks they can lie their way out of any situation. It's both sad and disturbing to watch, especially when the addict refuses to seek help. How do you help someone who doesn't want to help his or her self? There are no easy answers or easy choices.
I don't believe in enabling a drug addict by giving him or her a place to stay so he or she stays off the streets. The reality is he/she will still use the drug. Why make them comfortable? As much as it hurts to kick the person out, the reality is he/she probably should be on the streets, but I also recognize demonstrating tough love hurts.
I'm a firm believer that at the end of the day the addict has to want to quit. The high from the drug can no longer dominate over everything in that individual's life. What does it take to get there? The answers vary. A lot of people in the addiction community say you have to let a drug addict hit "rock bottom." It is only then when the individual may find redemption that is if he/she doesn't OD first. You just don't know. You hope. You wonder, You wait. You pray.
Addicts don't just hurt themselves, they hurt their family and friends. Everybody hurts.
I've seen and heard a plethora of stories about addiction. It's the problem that happens to other people until someone close to you falls victim.You can only hide it for so long before the drug catches up with your body, behaviors, and actions. The addict doesn't accept this notion. He/she thinks they can lie their way out of any situation. It's both sad and disturbing to watch, especially when the addict refuses to seek help. How do you help someone who doesn't want to help his or her self? There are no easy answers or easy choices.
I don't believe in enabling a drug addict by giving him or her a place to stay so he or she stays off the streets. The reality is he/she will still use the drug. Why make them comfortable? As much as it hurts to kick the person out, the reality is he/she probably should be on the streets, but I also recognize demonstrating tough love hurts.
I'm a firm believer that at the end of the day the addict has to want to quit. The high from the drug can no longer dominate over everything in that individual's life. What does it take to get there? The answers vary. A lot of people in the addiction community say you have to let a drug addict hit "rock bottom." It is only then when the individual may find redemption that is if he/she doesn't OD first. You just don't know. You hope. You wonder, You wait. You pray.
Addicts don't just hurt themselves, they hurt their family and friends. Everybody hurts.
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