How to Deal with Addiction

By A Friend of Ours

Editor's Note: This piece was written by a friend of ours the day after her son overdosed. She

felt compelled to write a stream of consciousness on the night it happened to help make sense of her own emotions. Unfortunately, addiction is a common problem in the United States. 21.5 million American adults suffered from substance use disorders in 2014, according to the

National Survey on Drug Use and Health. In this piece, our friend considers the effect that addiction has on an entire family.

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ADDICTION, I HATE THAT WORD, it terrifies me.

My child died tonight. I never thought I would say those words. Due to the mercy of God, the 911 caller, the expertise of the fire/ambulance dispatcher, and the well trained first responders he is alive.

Life got hard for different reasons. He was quickly spiraling downward and went on an alcohol binge, which led to something stronger, a better high. Heroin.

He went looking for it and it nearly cost him his life. HEROIN, what the hell! He had been clean for a few years and here he was heading towards that life again. I later found out that what he

actually bought and used was Fentanyl laced with cocaine, even worse! With that combination he shouldn’t be here.

After the medical professionals had him stable he called my husband and I from the hospital to tell us what happened. I nearly lost my mind. He pleaded with us to pick him up. I told him no, he needed to be admitted into a program that night. Who was I to deny my son’s crying out and pleading? What kind of mother would do this? It turned out to be the best and right move. A loved family member got him into a rehab the next day where he was safe and where he could get the help he desperately needed and wanted. He started to take control of his life with the care of people who had been through their own scenario of this kind.

This disease is insidious. It can happen to anyone, at any time, from any walk of life. Unfortunately, his family has been thrown into this disease as well. It has affected each of us differently. We’re angry, depressed, hurt, sad, on guard, etc. It takes a piece of your soul. We have to learn to cope with him and his addiction. It will be with us the rest of our lives. He has to work hard, stay focused and stay strong enough to say NO. I hope he takes his sobriety very seriously. He’s loved and we need him. His family deserves the man he used to be. He has a lot of people praying, loving, and supporting him and his family.

ADDICTION, I HATE THAT WORD, it terrifies me.