Get help anyway you can.

   Years ago, there was a PSA on TV by Carroll O'Connor, probably best known as Archie Bunker. Mr. O'Connor's son died as a result of his addiction and this ad was one of the few that has stuck with me for years and had an impact on even a teenager who really didn't care too much about some celebrity's kid or drug addiction, "I don't know any addicts." I will never forget this one though. Maybe it was how real it was. Maybe it was because I had seen his son as an actor, sober, and I realized the risk and reality that relapse happens. I don't know. I just know that it got me thinking and has been the focal point of my work with addiction.

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       I feel compelled to post this video and this post because I have resources on my website that are various organizations and business, some non-profit, some not, and honestly, in this world we live in, if I saw that on someone's site I would assume they were getting a kick-back and scroll on. ​    
     I will put any resources on that page that I can if it is reputable, profit, non profit, volunteer, whatever. Because we all have to get between addiction and people ANY WAY WE CAN. 
     We know now that anyone, anywhere, in any circumstances, can fall prey to the disease of addiction. It is not something that is deserving of shame or punishment but compassionate care, healthy boundaries, and creative treatment. By creative I mean getting rid of the "one size fits all" mentality. There are a lot of treatments and treatment centers. They are all good treatments. They won't work for everyone and we don't know exactly why. But we are still learning and trying to figure that out. In the meantime, it keeps the struggle on family, loved ones, and those struggling with addiction to figure out what to do. 
               Rehab- works! Not for everyone
               AA- works! Not for everyone
               Medication like methadone and suboxone works! Not for everyone
                Heck, art therapy! Why I have this website- works! Not for everyone.

     The point is that any of these can and do work but the person who is being treated needs to have something that works for them. Take medications for example. Say an anti depressant works for someone but the side effect is weight gain. They gain 50 pounds, they diet, they exercise, they do EVERYTHING they are "supposed" to do and the weight persists. Now they are depressed because of that. Sometimes people stay on that medication because the trade off is worth it for them. Sometimes people ask, "what else can we do?" because both things bring the same kind of pain and sadness.  
     AA is a miracle and amazing and beautiful. And sometimes it can trigger people and  hurt them. And sometimes it is the miracle that brings people back to their lives and their loves free from addiction.
    I can't tell you what will work for you. All I can say is GET BETWEEN ADDICTION and YOURSELF or YOUR LOVED ONE ANY. WAY. YOU. CAN. 

FIGHT
BELIEVE
FAIL AND TRY AGAIN
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Do anything because the rewards for your hard work and your fighting and your surviving is life. Beautifully imperfect, fantastically flawed, and breathtaking life. 
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