End The Stigma

Society has a funny way of making stigmas for the uncomfortable and the unfamiliar. Society says an addict is the homeless man down the street or the young mother not taking care of her children. Society says an addict doesn’t have a job, doesn’t take showers, and looks dirty. Society says mental illnesses are “chosen” by white women, with a lot of responsibility to take on. Mental illnesses are designated for women who drive around a soccer team 4 times a week and pick their 3 kids up from three different schools daily. Society says addiction is “a choice” made by someone who is weak, uneducated, and who grew up with parents who didn’t care for them. Society looks at someone and thinks they know that person’s life story. I am here to tell you that is all a lie.

Addiction does not discriminate and addiction doesn’t care how much money you have. Addiction doesn’t care if you have kids, if you have bills, if you have a car, or if you are sick. Addiction doesn’t mind that you have other vices, as long as you give him all your money. Addiction doesn’t mind that you have other boyfriends, as long as you end the night with him. Addiction doesn’t mind that you have other best friends, as long as you tell him all your secrets…..and keep all of his secrets, too. Addiction doesn’t care how color your skin is, what country you’re from, where you fall in the societal class system, or where you go to school. Addiction doesn’t hate you, as long as you’re getting high every few hours. Addiction is always there for you. Addiction doesn’t judge you – only society judges you. And still, people wonder WHY someone is addicted to heroin. People wonder why someone chooses addiction over their family – the same family telling her she is worthless and a bad person. The sam family telling her she will never amount to anything. Addiction doesn’t tell me I am worthless – even though it MAKES me worthless.

Addiction does not hold anything against you, but people do. Your own blood will turn their back on you, but addiction will always be there for you when you’re down and need a friend. People think they can see who is an addict by the look on their face or how dirty their nails are – but that isn’t true. Addiction finds ways to hide in the daylight. Addiction will figure out your triggers and pull that trigger every single day – without warning and without care. Yet, addiction is my one true love. Addiction is your one true love. People look at me and judge me, hate me, scold me, laugh at me. Addiction cradles me in his arms and tells me it will be alright – if I take a hit, inject, or snort him. People will kill me just as easily as addiction, so why not pick the one who won’t judge me in the meantime? People are dangerous too, right? People are mean. People are nosey. People lie. People are worse than addiction, in my eyes. At least I feel better after I leave addiction, well at least for a little bit.

Society says an addict is a low-life and a bum. Society says an addict deserves their outcome, even if it is death, because they “chose” to get high and they “chose” their addiction. Society says Mental illnesses is a choice because you “chose how you act”. Society says addiction is not a mental illness, it isn’t even a disease or sickness. Society says addicts need to get out of it’s cities and get away from the one’s making a living. Society says the crazy people should be locked up because we are a lost cause.

Society views us as a group of people worthy of nothing, not even a bed and a therapist, regardless of our past. Society refuses to see us as humans who need help and wonder why we choose drugs, or other vices, over our families. The same people kicking us down are the same people telling us “to get back up” and wonder why we chose to stay down. If we’re already down, it doesn’t hurt as bad when we hit the ground.

#EndTheStigma and change how we view and treat addicts and mental health issues in America. We need change and we need empathy for people who are suffering.