Recently, I watched a TV show about Jim Morrison, singer from the rock band, The Doors. I’ve never been a Doors fan, but the show seemed interesting so I watched it. It struck me very sad that apparently, the French authorities didn’t even do a proper autopsy on him. They found out he was on drugs & an alcoholic, & pretty much just disregarded his death. Morrison was treated as sub-human because he was an addict.
This isn’t terribly surprising. So many people with an addiction are looked down on by society. It’s really sad, when you think about it. Someone who has an addiction is most likely trying to escape something. Chances are good they know the damage to their bodies that drugs, alcohol or even overeating will do to them, yet they do it anyway. They also most likely know that their addiction can separate them from their loved ones, bankrupt them, make them lose a job & so much more. How desperate they must be to partake in something that can do so much harm!
After watching that show, & thinking about it, I felt that it would be a good idea to remind you, Dear Reader, not to judge addicts. These poor people are going through something terrible. Just because they made a bad choice by choosing drugs, alcohol, etc. to cope doesn’t mean they are worthy of disdain. Everyone makes a bad choice at some point. It’s just a part of being human.
I admit, I’m not close to anyone personally suffering with addiction, so this is hardly my area of expertise. However, some things seem like common sense. Such as, if you know someone going through an unhealthy addiction, please don’t judge them. Offer them unconditional love & support, while refusing to enable their habit. If someone is going to kick an addiction, they are going to need support & love to help strengthen them. Also, scolding or shaming will not help! They know they’re doing something wrong- reminding them of how many people they’re hurting or telling them they’re weak for being addicted won’t help. It’ll only serve to make them feel worse, & I would think push them towards their addiction to escape the shame they feel. It certainly would me! Even if you don’t understand, at least try to see things from the other person’s perspective.
Cynthia Bailey-Rug, Christian Author 
It’s been a while since I’ve read in detail one of you posts and this one hits home. Although I have never had a substance issue, I have been surrounded and supported those who do basically all my life. Multiple family members and loved ones). I struggled to understand relapse, especially after extensive clean time so I found a support meeting for family members supporting addicts called Naranon. I got a clear understanding that typically the first hit is a choice any subsequent is an illness that many need help getting over. Ironically I work at a substance abuse clinic and I see hundreds struggling from heroine addictions which is incredibly heartbreaking. Many patients really are just kids! I pray for my work environment daily and ask that others do the same as our society is facing a serious epidemic with precious lives at stake.
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it’s so sad isn’t it?? Addiction really is an epidemic, & addicts are treated so badly for the most part. It’s just sad!!
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Not every addict is a junkie.
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Nope. & even if they are, that doesn’t mean they’re sub human. They’re still people- hurting & with problems, but that doesn’t remove their humanity.
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