Project 4

First, let's start with the facts. Addiction affects millions of people all over the world. According to Addiction Center, "Whether it's a problem with alcohol, opioids, cocaine, or any other substance, addiction kills thousands of Americans every year and impacts millions of lives." Addiction does not just affect the person that is using. While it may seem like the person who is sick is the only one being effected, that is not the case. Not only does addiction cause long term effects on a persons mental and physical health, it also causes problems with their personal relationships. According to Addiction Center, "Addiction is classified as a mental disorder which compels someone to repeatedly use substances or engage in behaviors even though they have harmful consequences. Addictions destroy marriages, friendships, and careers and threaten a persons basic health and safety." The simple fact that nearly 21 million Americans suffer from addiction means that this is a serious crisis in America. Unfortunately, only 10% of Americans receive treatment for their addictions. My goal for this project is to raise awareness for addiction and recovery.

According to the Center on Addiction, "Addiction is defined as a disease by most medical associations, including the American Medical Association and the American Society of Addiction Medicine." It's important for people to understand that there are many factors that can cause addiction. According to the Center on Addiction, "...Addiction is caused by a combination of behavioral, environmental and biological factors." Unfortunately, genetics make it much more likely for someone to become an addict.

Have you ever heard someone say "Addiction is a choice"? According to the Center of Addiction, "People with addiction should not be blamed for suffering from the disease. All people make choices about whether to use substances. However, people do not choose how their brain and body respond to drugs and alcohol, which is why people with addiction cannot control their use while others can." I understand that it's hard for someone who does not suffer from addiction to understand this. Many won't understand until they're personally affected. The simple truth is that no one wakes up one day deciding to be at the mercy of drugs or alcohol; living on the streets jobless, homeless, kid-less, and without family. Addiction is cruel and evil and does not discriminate. We as a community, need to take a stand together and shed more light on this illness.

According to Drug Free, "Statistics show that 23.5 million Americans are addicted to alcohol and drugs. That's approximately one in every 10 Americans over the age of 12- roughly equal to the entire population of Texas." If you were put into a room full of 10 healthy looking people, do you think you could point out the person who's struggling with addiction? The truth is, you probably couldn't. Please, next time that you're out running errands, take a look around and do the math. I think that you'll realize it adds up pretty quickly. It's alarmingly surreal the affects that addiction brings upon us. Addiction not only affects me personally but it also affects our community as a whole. As Americans, we have to understand that addicts need the support of their family, friends and community in order to recover.

Millions of people spend their whole lives trying to get better, but to no avail. While addiction is continuously magnified throughout media, I believe that how people RECOVER should be emphasized more than just simple statistics. Now that we've identified the problem, let's talk about a solution. There are so many local resources here in Glynn County. For example, there are residential treatment centers and halfway houses which provide aftercare treatment. Some people have the idea that they need money to receive help. Thankfully, that is not the case. In fact, there are several treatment centers that offer grants and scholarships for indigent people. The treatment and resources are out there. Addicts just have to make the decision to reach out for help. Believe it or not, a little willingness goes a long way. I am living proof! There are so many ways that people who struggle with addiction can grow and develop into stable human beings. Addiction doesn't mean your life has to stop; it means that we have the opportunity to overcome and beat the stigma.

Seek residential treatment in Glynn County:

• https://ssbythesea.com/

• http://www.gatewaybhs.org/

Here are a few healthy ways to support sobriety:

• Join a fellowship, such as AA or NA

• Alcoholics Anonymous: https://www.aa.org/pages/en_US/find-local-aa

• Read the literature: Alcoholics Anonymous/ Narcotics Anonymous

• Go out and meet like minded people

• Join a gym

• Meditate/pray

• Get outdoors

Here are a few links to help you understand more about addiction: