Pondering the Nature of Substance Use Disorders

As we nearly round out the collection of ‘Honorable Mentions’ with a selection of poignant essays on efforts to reduce the impact of addiction in student’s personal lives, a theme of connections emerges. These reflections on addiction and recovery review a variety of possible ways to reduce addiction in America and improve the chances of those struggling.

Although the geographical background of these submissions are widely disparate, the solutions and advice that are given on ‘Making an Impact’ share some similarities. By reaching out and making those suffering from alcohol or substance abuse disorders aware that many others have gone through the same issues and resolved them, we provide a crucial connection to hope that is often lacking.

1. C.M. (Cankdeska Cikana Community College)

Personally, I believe that it will take guidance from the right people to reduce the number of people struggling with addiction in this country. For example, recovering addicts can significantly make an impact just by leading by example.

Promoting Recovery by Example

Although easier said than done, if we can change the minds of society by changing the outlook on addicts, it will be a great start. People need to stop making judgements and viewing addicts as hopeless low lives. Maybe then, several addicts wouldn’t have to carry the shame of being an addict.

It takes courage for an addict to openly speak about being an addict. There is no better person to help an addict than a recovering addict. A recovering addict brings so much hope to those feeling hopeless. They also set a huge example and are living proof that anyone can overcome addiction.

Aligning Recovery Goals with Education

This essay is perfect for me to share my personal experience and educational goals.

Since the beginning of my adulthood, I have battled with substance abuse disorder. First experimenting with opiates and becoming fully addicted and then later cross-addicting to methamphetamines.

There were times when I thought I would never defeat the demon of addiction. Thankfully I have a wonderful family to never give up on me and always encouraged me no matter how bad I fell. I come from the Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe in North Dakota, where opiate and meth seemed to have consumed a great amount of our people. Literally every family here is affected by substance abuse in some form. Its trajectory continues without mercy.

Don’t Let any Disorders Define You

Instead of letting my disorder define me, I am choosing to let it aspire my educational and career goals. I have always had a passion for helping others as long as I can remember. So I plan on continuing my education to become a master social worker and licensed addiction counselor.

Providing Access to All Individuals for Addiction Treatment

All I want is to be able to come back to my homelands and make a difference in a variety of ways. Firstly, addressing the addiction epidemic. It is my dream to create an addiction program that will be relevant to all addicts and be made flexible to fit each individual’s situation. I want to make it possible to accept anyone into the program regardless of their situation and whether they have insurance or not.

Too many times I have seen someone give up and continue down their road of destruction because of being turned away from an addiction program.

If we can all lean on each other and encourage one another no matter what the problem is, we would already be making a huge difference.

2. G.O. (University of Georgia)

I believe the reason that people struggle with addictions can be attributed to environmental reasons; most of these being beyond a person’s control. Your environment, economic, and education status are all factors that can drive a person towards unhealthy habits. My experiences with addiction are personal.

Environmental Causes of Addiction

I have seen my mother in the deepest throes of alcohol abuse and am now seeing my sister suffer the same fate. In retrospect, I never knew my mother to have hobbies or passions that occupied her time in a positive way.

I strongly feel that to prevent or conquer addictions, one must have a goal or a will towards the improvement of their own life, and at the very least find something that engages their mind, body, and spirit. Otherwise, the reality of human existence can quickly become bleak.

Reflections on Addiction and Recovery: Coping Mechanisms

One needs a will (or several) to live, especially for people dealt an unfortunate hand. A problem that alludes me is what has made me different in my ability to not go down the same paths my family members have suffered? I have always been active and have had many interests I pursued but I, myself, have also suffered bouts of mental illness that I tried to remedy with substances.

I somehow learned coping mechanisms at a very young age and have used alternative medicines as solutions. The simplest of acts such as physical movement and journaling have become habits I instill in my everyday life.

The use of short-term and long-term goals have been huge factors for me in progressing towards a higher potential. It is important to not lose sight of these goals because when this happens the pull towards unhealthy habits is much higher.

Holistic Recovery Approaches to Addiction

I feel that in recovery, especially in rehabilitation centers, the focus should be put on presenting life as different quadrants that must all be addressed. Within these quadrants there is the mental aspect, physical needs, social needs, and future goals. I would compare this to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs where a pyramid exists of human needs that one must meet before they can reach the next rung up the ladder.

Except in this case, each quadrant of needs compliments the other and they can all coexist together to create a more fulfilling life that needs not rely on external substances that lead to addiction. Everything that you take in whether physical, mental, or socially must be considered. The food you eat, the words you think or say and the people you allow into your life all can have a deep effect on the quality of your life.

There must be an intense emphasis placed on mindfulness of such factors. At the same time, all these things won’t matter if there is a lack of reason for being. What makes a person come alive? What will help them reach their fullest potential in this life? These questions must be addressed and perhaps the answer is what will keep a person off the substances that have tormented them.

3. A.M. (School Unknown)

Alcoholism: The stigma is as powerful as the substance

When many people think of alcohol they think of crazy teenagers, the classic “wine moms’, and dads enjoying a nice IPA. Despite the romanticization of alcohol in the media and in our society the addiction to it is so heavily stigmatized that many refuse to seek treatment.

How Social Perceptions of Alcohol Affect Addiction

The effects of alcohol are not pretty and can do so much harm yet individuals count the days until their 21st birthday so they can finally take their first legal drink. The stigma behind alcohol begins with the lack of education not only for adults and teens but also for the family members of the addicts.

A common misconception with alcoholism is that the person is choosing to continue their addiction, or that they are continuing drinking because they don’t care enough about you to stop. Both of these statements are completely false and honestly pretty hurtful to someone who is battling addiction. When a person has an addiction, it chemically alters your brain to the point when it becomes near impossible to stop.

Inspiring the Choice to Embrace Recovery

Overcoming addiction is even harder if it is not your idea. The addict themselves has to decide to stop or else it is inevitable that they will become addicted once again. Addiction is a disease typically passed down from generation to generation. If a family member has an addiction, you are far more likely to fall victim to addiction later on in your life.

That is another thing many people in our society are not educated on which is why addiction is so prevalent. I have lots of experience with addiction in my life. Growing up, both of my parents were alcoholics. I knew that past 6:00 P.M.

I no longer had parents. At the moment, I had no idea that this was not a normal thing for every child. Seeing my parents passed out on the couch every night and having to take care of my sister were just normal parts of my life.

My parents being addicted not only affected their health but also our family as a whole. Addiction is a family disease. Another common stigma about addiction is that it only affects the addict which is utterly false.

Education Methods to Improve Addiction Awareness

Without education on the harmful effects of addiction, millions of members of my generation will fall victim to addiction. Many teenagers describe themselves as an “alcoholic” when in the future, those tendencies could ruin their families just like they almost did mine. It took my mother a near-death experience to finally get sober which wasn’t easy for her, but my parents realized that their health and the well-being of our family were at stake.

Had they not taken those steps and reversed the habits they created as teenagers, we might not have the close-knit relationship we do today. While my parents’ addiction did cause lots of hardship for my family, I would not be the person I am today without having gone through that.

Healing From Addiction as a Family is Possible

Thankfully, my parents have been sober for 3 years. My heart goes out to all of the families who are still battling addiction and may never see the day their parents or family members become sober. Addiction affects every aspect of your family from, emotionally, to financially and also socially. The lack of education on the effects and romanization of alcohol is why it is still such a large issue.

I believe for us to evolve as a society and reduce the number of families affected, we need to educate more people on all the effects and open the conversation. Bringing awareness to an issue like this is the first step to combating it.

4. L.C.G. (Community College of Denver, admitted to UC-Denver)

My name is Luis Carlos. I am a college student who has just been admitted into the University of Colorado – Denver. First and foremost, though, I am an alcoholic. I have been sober now for a year and a half.

Personal Experiences to Enhance Recovery Efforts

Although I cannot offer an answer on the question of addiction, I do have to offer my personal experience. I sobered up at twenty-one years old. I had been attempting to get sober for some years up to that point. As desperate as I was to sober up, I was not able to do so. I had attempted everything I could come up with in an attempt to stop, but still to no avail.

One day, I was attending an A.A. meeting after a long drunk. This was nothing new, since I had been attending various twelve step groups in an attempt to get something to stick. After the meeting, I was approached by a fellow alcoholic who stretched out his hand to welcome me. What that man did for me was the missing link in my attempts to get sober.

Reflections on Addiction and Recovery: Outreach

I had been attempting to get sober on my own willpower and was unsuccessful in doing so. I was too scared to get involved. I was too scared to ask for help. That day, that man went out of his way to offer his help even when I wasn’t capable of asking for it.

I have sobered up through the help of A.A. I want to take the time to set aside the label though. There is a principle in my experience that has been the answer to my alcoholic plight.

This principle transcends any organization or institution. That principle is that alcoholics must help each other to stay sober. There is something truly special about the camaraderie of sober alcoholics that is solely responsible for the fact that a hopeless helpless drunk like me has managed to stay sober. I owe my sobriety to the fellow sober alcoholics in my life who have spent countless helping me stay clean. Alcoholism for me is not an inability to stop drinking. Drinking is but a symptom of a deeper problem.

Spiritual Solutions to the Problem of Addiction

This problem lies at the level of the soul for me. The only thing that has reached that level is the altruism of fellow sober alcoholics. I am applying for this scholarship in order to pay for tuition at the University of Colorado – Denver. I was recently admitted and will begin attending in the spring of 2022.

For years I dreamt of going to this school, but I was never able to do so due to my inability to stop drinking. Today my dreams have turned into reality. I owe this to the men who helped me when I couldn’t help myself and to trying to do the same for others.