Let me hear your stories, let's change addiction.
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Join Date: Jun 2017
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Let me hear your stories, let's change addiction.
Let me start off, I am a recovering addict I have been clean 3 years. My husband also in recovery has been clean 2 years and recently relapsed and was sent to prison he was on drug court. I have recently been emailing the governor of my state and all the town's I could possibly get a hold of for ideas of how to change the system and how to actually help people in recovery instead of throwing them in jail. I would love to hear everyone's stories and any ideas you may have. Programs, thoughts about the system and what you think would help being changed also what had helped you in recovery.
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Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Ireland
Posts: 25,826
Welcome to the Forum Aallenbaugh!! Great to have you with us!! 
I think more understanding of addiction is something that could help, where I come from it's still very taboo to have an addiction, so no one talks about it as it can affect how people view you, for example with jobs etc, so people say nothing and addiction inevitably wins.
In addition Drs here don't have the resources, there are very few detox/rehab facilities, so the voluntary/charity sector tries to fill the gap the best they can.
SR was a place I could feel safe, a place of like minded people for support and advice, without judgement, the irony was I needed to find people, some are half way around the world, and that highlights the lack of help there was locally.
Addiction is no where near regarded on an equal footing as other physical or mental illnesses or conditions, there is still a lot of blame associated with the addict and very little empathy, but on the other hand the more celebrities/sports people etc address their addiction in the spotlight, I think that has been a great help to go some way with overcoming the hurdles society has put in place for an addict to get the help they need.
I think more understanding of addiction is something that could help, where I come from it's still very taboo to have an addiction, so no one talks about it as it can affect how people view you, for example with jobs etc, so people say nothing and addiction inevitably wins.
In addition Drs here don't have the resources, there are very few detox/rehab facilities, so the voluntary/charity sector tries to fill the gap the best they can.
SR was a place I could feel safe, a place of like minded people for support and advice, without judgement, the irony was I needed to find people, some are half way around the world, and that highlights the lack of help there was locally.
Addiction is no where near regarded on an equal footing as other physical or mental illnesses or conditions, there is still a lot of blame associated with the addict and very little empathy, but on the other hand the more celebrities/sports people etc address their addiction in the spotlight, I think that has been a great help to go some way with overcoming the hurdles society has put in place for an addict to get the help they need.
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Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: London
Posts: 2,040
Hi Aallenbaugh7,
I am watching a documentary right now on the subject of decriminalisating drugs and instead approaching addiction as an illness where those suffering are provided with rehab etc. In the UK a celebrity called Russell Brand who is a recovering drug addict has done this documentary and another one I watched the other day. Have a search online for him and his documentaries.
Wishing you well x
I am watching a documentary right now on the subject of decriminalisating drugs and instead approaching addiction as an illness where those suffering are provided with rehab etc. In the UK a celebrity called Russell Brand who is a recovering drug addict has done this documentary and another one I watched the other day. Have a search online for him and his documentaries.
Wishing you well x
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