by Ruby St. Amand
Northern News Services

NNSL (Nov 21/97) - Alcohol and drugs are major factors in many of today's social problems. Be it a minor or a major problem, addiction has no age limits.

You may be rich and have a well-to-do job, a good family and home or you can be poor with no job and no home. Addiction has no barriers and it doesn't matter what culture you're born into -- you will be the victim if you permit it to be. What ever you do, the ultimate choice is yours.

You can be addicted to both drugs and alcohol combined or you can be addicted to alcohol alone. The evidence is clearly visable in our community -- cosmopolitan or not -- and we can fight back the effects and holds it has on many people.

We can as a whole community, loosen the grip of drugs and alcohol by educating others be they young or be they an elder, for addiction creeps up slowly and the process can take a long time to heal.

Beginning Sunday, Nov. 16 to 23, it is National Addictions Awareness Week and for you, the public, time to be aware of the addiction that can be broken or to assist those that are too often shoved away because of their addiction, harsh and mean to the soul, can help lead them to a healthier way of lifestyle, even if it means taking off your gloves to help them.

The road downhill

For many who have an addiction to some form of drugs and alcohol it can lead to a life of despair and destruction, but that only happens in the end when you have almost destroyed your body and soul.

Your addiction may be a weekly night out on the town, drinking the best there is to drink, or it may be the cheapest by putting your money together and buying a cheap bottle of wine. Then again, it doesn't matter what you drink or what you smoke, it may dearly cost you your life without a second chance of recovery, as for many the second chance came to late.

Addiction may not always be the drug addict or alcoholic, but it can be the supplier as well, for they are the ones who sell and it is often hard for them to give it up. That becomes an addiction for them as well. Who are they trying to fool anyway?

For an alcoholic or drug addict, fear, past hurts, depression, child abuse -- the list can go on -- the hurting doesn't seem to go away.

You want to cover up your problems and only temporarily the pain will go away, only to return when you feel lonely, then it will start all over again.

Friends disappear

We have seen our small town increase and decrease --increase in drugs and alcohol and decrease in population due to an overdose, or liver and kidney failure due to constant drinking, day in and day out. Not a pretty sight when you have to go and identify your loved one.

Where were their friends when they were calling out for help? Or where was the person who sold them the drugs or alcohol? Were they there to tell them what the damaging effects would be?

We don't want to see the town with rejected people, suicidal people, derelicts, loneliness or shame all because of drugs and alcohol, we want to see a healthy community.

Addiction is a hard thing to shake -- so many are calling out for help and we've heard that some feel like they're wrapped up in chains and it seems impossible to be free.

It is hard to reach for help when you are bound. Addiction is no easy way out, you must face reality sooner or later. Addiction makes you cry out for help and when you've been there and done that it's finally time to give it up. For some hitting rock bottom was the last straw.

Addiction makes you go in denial, feelings of self worthlessness and manic depression sets in. You must have that drink before you go to bed and it must be there when you wake up in the morning, or you must have that smoke to give you your temporary happiness for the day, only to find yourself wanting another one.

As you continue to drink you begin to get the shakes, better known as delirium. You try rolling a cigarette and lighting it, only to find out that you can't even find your cigarette in your mouth.

Seeing the truth

Days later you look in the mirror. Yeah. Lucky you you're still there, but you've lost a bit of weight. Possibly your job and your marriage as well.

Well, for friends -- where are they now that you need them to share your problems with?

Where is the guy or gal that supplied your habits? You're in despair, you're suicidal, you need help. Will they help you? Chances are that they don't want to have anything to do with your problem or your health.

They'll tell you that it's not their problem, that you have a problem. Go knock on someone else's door.

This addiction is serious stuff and the only way to get the message across is to have speakers educating our children and young adults, and elders as well, for addiction is not just for the poor and needy, it's in all walks of life.

Addiction. When you're too weak to call out for help but show the signs. Addicted. When you've been there and done that and sought help.

But wait. You haven't lost hope yet. There is a place you can call for help. Don't let your high position in life stop you from reaching out for help, you never know that the person that is seeking help is your neighbor, your brother or sister, maybe your boss or an associate, or your best friend.

Put your denial behind you and a positive step forward and your well on your way to recovery.

Be humble and with determination you will have then conquered this cruel world of addiction and entered your new-found freedom like a butterfly that has just opened its wings.