He worked hard, built a life and married the woman he loved. But when addiction took hold, when he got too drunk to stand and did things he didn’t even remember, they held his hands, looked into his eyes and told him not to worry – they were there. When he got tangled in addiction, he ended up into a filthy, rundown rehab. And when he recovered, ready to rebuild the future, loneliness settled. He was full of self-doubt. Lived like a shadow – so non-existent.
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It all started with clinking glasses of whiskey, and he is still fighting, still trying, still explaining – the true story of an addict.
What is addiction, actually?
As defined by Narcotics Anonymous, addiction is a progressive disease with no known cure, which affects every area of an addict's life: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.
According to the philosophy of Narcotics Anonymous, most addicts do not realise they have a problem with substance abuse (alcohol or drugs) until they have no other choice but to end up dead or in jail. Most of these people who suffer from addiction are sent to rehabilitation centres for recovery. Some relapse again, and some live the rest of their lives as recovering addicts.
Addiction is not a sin; it’s an unfortunate situation where an individual goes astray, not knowing where this path is leading them. The only provision available to heal an addict today is to get them admitted to a rehabilitation centre. What these people go through is incredibly excruciating, and it is a polymorphic journey that requires staggering courage and perseverance. Imagine the physical pain of withdrawal, the emotional challenges of confronting past trauma, the social isolation, and the mental exhaustion of adjusting to new habits—each of these elements makes the process more challenging. Still, this pain ultimately gives way to the reward of recovery, which gives the individual hope to start a new life again. I repeat, so elated are these people to start a new life.
But who are these people who abuse themselves with addiction? Do they do it intentionally? Did someone stop them once they were under substance abuse? Did they intentionally relapse once they were out of rehabilitation centres? As a society, do we know? The answer is we don’t know, or let’s say this- we don’t want to know.
Why Addiction? This is the question that only a handful of us discuss when talking about an addict. The dynamics of dependence on addiction vary from person to person. Some of the most common reasons may include: to alleviate pain, societal influence, curiosity or experimentation, and, in some cases, mental health issues. Most addicts don’t even realise that what started as casual or occasional use can lead to addiction, and they get tangled in a chain that no one imagined would be so difficult to break. This can happen to anyone, irrespective of social status, caste, or creed. I repeat: anyone.
Pre-Rehab Internal Support System – Family is the only support system that can try to rescue an addict. After all, no one in the world can care for you more than your own family. When a person is struggling with addiction, the way the family responds is critical. It’s pointless to abuse or beat an addict. Blaming and being judgmental is also of no use. Co-family members must educate themselves about addiction. This most importantly involves recognising the signs. Families should avoid enabling the addict. Enabling occurs when family members protect the addict from the consequences of their actions. Enabling also means keeping a tab on the expenses given to the addict. In some cases, enabling also means telling the addict that everything’s going to be okay, which makes the addict take everything around them for granted. If nothing works, the family must encourage professional help and treatment. Addicts who are enslaved by their addiction will never want rehab, but even if the family forces the addict into rehab, they must visit the addict. Once they are inside the rehab, the addict needs a lot of emotional support from the family, which will make their path to recovery easier. I have seen some families abandoning the addict. If you really care, why would you leave or not visit even once?
Post-Rehabilitation and Social Solidarity: The way family and society treat recovering addicts varies greatly depending on cultural, societal, and individual perspectives. But here is the hard reality – the first challenge most recovering addicts face is SOCIAL DISAPPROVAL. They are judged as being morally weak, sometimes by their families and sometimes by the society they live in, which makes them more vulnerable to relapse as they find it difficult to gain acceptance. The second challenge they face is that they are STEREOTYPED. They are labelled as addicts, always perceived to be irreparable and flawed. It is very hard to explain how this person, who genuinely wants to be accepted, struggles every day to prevent the easiest thing called “RE-LAPSE.” This person is not asking for money or any other materialistic favors, they simply need to stop being stereotyped as an addict. I have seen many recovering addicts writing amends to people they had hurt, but they are condemned here too, as people already have preconceived notions about their character. As a society, we need to move beyond judgment and recognise addiction as a medical condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It is time to start treating individuals struggling with addiction with the same respect, empathy, and support that we would offer to anyone battling a chronic illness. How can we help a recovering addict shout at the top of his voice and say – “I was an addict, and I am on the path to recovery. I too have the right to live with full dignity.” But most of them always end up begging, “Please do not judge me.”
Now the question is, why should I do this? I am not affected by any of this. Why bother? My friends, this article is about creating social awareness, which can’t be done by one person alone. There are still many misconceptions and myths about addiction, which lead to misunderstanding and discrimination. As a society, we can start treating recovering addicts with respect by recognising their humanity, offering support, and refraining from judgment. Empathy, education, and compassion are the keys to helping those struggling with addiction feel valued, supported, and empowered to recover. Together, we can create a society where addiction is treated as a medical issue, not a moral one, and where recovery is celebrated as a testament to strength and resilience. If not all, maybe we could help one recovering addict live with dignity and respect and prevent another from heading down the path of darkness.
“I am Proud of You” is all they want to hear.
"Let's help those struggling with addiction survive with dignity and pride."
(The author is a freelancer. All views and opinions expressed are author’s own)
