Addiction is a cancer, a silent, stealthy ghost that sneaks up and steals your soul before you realize what has happened. When my back pain became unbearable and I took that first Lortab, I didn't know the path I was headed down. I didn't make a "stupid decision" to end up fully addicted to opiates and benzos a few years later...almost losing my job, family and life. Nobody thinks, "I want to be an addict. I want to slowly lose everything. I want to be totally dependent on a substance just to feel normal...even though I know that if I don't stop, it will kill me. I want to feel the worst pain and sickness ever if I don't get more of the drug." This just isn't how it works. Luckily, I sought help in the nick of time before it killed me. Many people don't and that's very sad. Many people don't because of the preconceived notions of people that have developed opinions without becoming educated on the subject first. And, those that don't often die...which is also very sad. Read...be educated...talk to people...the addict, the recovering addict, grieving family members, therapists, physicians...then, develop an opinion. Basing an opinion simply on one's own life experiences with no research is a fool's path.
Last edited: Oct 26, 2016