I am sharing a FB post from someone who deals with folks in all stages of addiction recovery.
"So here we have it. Another public death due to the effects of drugs and alcohol. And this quote from a loved one, who is grieving a terrible loss and is doing the best they can. “That is completely out of character for someone who worked so hard to become a...”
For the rest of us who are not experiencing a personal loss....
#1. It is not about character.
#2. It is not about work ethic, dreams, talent, or trying.
#3. It is not about being a good (or bad) person.
Please. We need to learn this for a million different reasons.
1. If we think it is about character we will stigmatize those who use and not provide the kind of support that helps them not use.
2. If we think that successful, decent, kind, focused, caring, skilled, gifted and talented people do not use, oh boy, we are going to miss opportunities to educate about the effects of the use of drugs AND alcohol on our brain and body OR
3. seek help for people who need it but are functioning at a high level.
4. If we think this is NOT an epidemic that potentially effects every member of our community, then we might feel irrationally protected from the possibility that someone we love might be vulnerable to a tragic outcome.
STOP. SAYING. WE CANNOT BELIEVE THIS HAPPENED TO (fill in the blank). Please. It is happening."