Addicts Should Be Helped

 

Just as the title of this article says, addicts should be helped. Too often, I look through social media articles about addiction, only to read the comments section and find myself appalled at what some people are writing. Whether it’s an article about a huge drug bust or a success story from a person who beat their addiction, scathing comments seem to wind up somewhere in the comments, interspersed between positive, uplifting comments. I’ve literally seen an amazing success story posted online and, in looking at the reactions below, I’ve read where people have actually written things like “all addicts should just die” or “addicts don’t need help, they need prison or death.”  The comments about addicts and Darwinism really get under my skin.

I don’t understand how anyone can not only make comments like that but actually have the viewpoint that an addict or an alcoholic isn’t worth saving. It seems inhumane and almost demonizes anyone who has ever struggled with substance abuse issues. These are peoples’ sons and daughters, mothers and fathers. I feel like anyone who believes that substance abusers should just be thrown out with the trash are either on drugs themselves, never lost someone they love to addiction, or they’ve been wronged in some way by an addict or alcoholic. And I get it, people who are addicted do a lot of damage to those around them, but it is no reason to hate all addicts. Everyone deserves a second chance because most of us would never have gotten to where we are in life unless someone along the way gave us the ability to right our wrongs.

“Everyone deserves a second chance because most of us would never have gotten to where we are in life unless someone along the way gave us the ability to right our wrongs.”

Addicts and alcoholics who choose to get help, change their lives, and take responsibility for the condition they are in are some of the most courageous people I have ever met. It takes a lot to be able to confront the error of your ways, but those that do handle their issues not only recover from a damaging lifestyle but many of them go on to do amazing things. Some of the best drug treatment counselors are recovered addicts because they have such a high level of empathy from having been through it themselves.

So no, addicts and alcoholics shouldn’t be left to die. They are worthy of help because those who have been helped are the ones who are out there trying to make the biggest difference in the world. Without recovered addicts and alcoholics, I highly doubt we would have made it this far in our fight against addiction. Beyond anything else, they are people too, and I personally believe that everyone and anyone is worth saving. I believe people are basically good, but sometimes drugs and alcohol get in the way and eclipse the actual person. The actual person is still in there—they’re just behind the veil that addiction creates. If we start truly start believing that addicted individuals aren’t worth saving, we’ve then officially lost the fight.