Everything you think you know about addiction is wrong
Johann Hari
Most people are familiar with the difficulties that result from active addiction. Whether it is from first-hand experience or watching a loved one destroy their lives, it is widespread for people to witness first-hand how drugs/ alcohol lead a person down roads that are better left untraveled. It may not be immediately clear what causes a person to decide to cause such harm to themselves and others. Addiction is fraught with disappointment, disillusionment, and destruction. Many times, the addict is the last to find out that they have a problem. Denial is a trademark of active addiction. The addict will look for every reason other than their drug use to explain why they have lost everything.
Many times, people come into recovery and are unable to identify what led to their using. It is common to hear phrases such as “I was bored” or “I just wanted to have fun.” Many times, the addiction started at a time in their life when they were still too young to understand the gravity of their decisions. It will often take many years before the addict can identify the reasons that led to their use. Most addicts eventually admit that they just wanted to feel accepted and understood when they first started to use drugs.
The opposite of addiction is… connection.
When the addict finds that they are not alone and no longer have to fight their dependence on their own, their lives become open to a world of possibilities. Most importantly, the addict is encouraged by the support that they receive from others that are also in recovery. They are experiencing the personal connection that gives them the necessary support and accountability essential to growing in their recovery. No longer does addiction have to be linked in an unbreakable chain.