Keep working to fight drug issue

To the editor:

With the increased attention on issues associated with substance abuse it continues to be important that as a community we face these challenges in compassionate, determined and collaborative fashion.

I continue to hear contradicting opinions on the definition of addiction. There appears to be two very different opinions, one that it is a disease and the other that it is a choice.

Why does it have to be one or the other? What if the answer is that it may be both? What if we understand that individuals develop the disease of addiction after having made the decision to use a substance?

If we eat poorly, don’t exercise and don’t see our physician regularly, we may develop diabetes or heart disease. Both are diseases and both can be brought on by choices we make. There is little shame associated with these diseases, but they too are chronic health conditions and often decrease life expectancy.

We live in a society that is searching for a cause and a cure. We want something or someone to blame. We also want a simple solution.

Addiction is a complicated issue and it will be equally as complicated to address. There is not a “one size fits all” approach to ending addiction or to curing this disease.

Unfortunately, you cannot “love” someone sober. You can support and encourage them. You can kick them out and refuse to help. You can shame or criticize them. You can enable them.

No matter how much you do any of these things, you can’t cure addiction or make your loved ones stop abusing substances. When trying to support someone who has an addiction, it is important to let them know that you care, treat them with compassion and avoid shaming them.

This does not mean that you enable them or condone their substance abuse. Having a sober support can be a significant factor in recovery for those with addiction. Often individuals are unable to identify any supports who do not abuse substances. While we all realize that not everyone uses drugs, when you are in this culture, it may seem like the only people who are there for you are also those with an addiction.

There are differing views about how to approach this issue. Many people feel that individuals with an addiction should be incarcerated. Some feel that we should send them to treatment and make them quit using.

Most disturbing, in my opinion, is the idea that we should let them die.

How can we as a civilized society not make every effort to help someone who is suffering? I have heard the frustrations that we are using Narcan on some individuals repeatedly and that it is a waste of time or money. My question is, what if this was your child, brother, sister, parent or friend? Wouldn’t you want someone to try to save them? What if this is the time it will make a difference?

I personally am not willing to risk that or make the decision on who is most deserving to live.

So where do we go from here?

As a community, we need to continue to educate ourselves. We need to be aware of the impact of addiction on the individual.

We are fortunate that in Jay County there are many resources for those with addiction.

We have multiple support groups including: Narcotics Anonymous, A Better Life Brianna’s Hope, Celebrate Recovery and Alcoholics Anonymous. We have mental health providers including: Jay County Behavioral Health Services, Meridian Health Services, and Youth Service Bureau.

We also have the Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition whose mission is to address issues associated with drugs and alcohol in our community.

There is help, there are people who care, and together, we can make a difference.

Jennifer VanSkyock

Jay County Hospital

Behavioral Health Services

Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition