Very powerful message from an addicts point of view...

Hey there again, I am writing to just post a message that was passed to me by a new friend whose son is an addict in recovery. He is older, not the typical 18 to 30 something, and still struggles with the feelings of what his addiction has done to, not only himself, but his supportive family. This is a very powerful message, I think about it everyday, and I think about how difficult it must be for an addict to have to deal with these humbling feelings, as well as, the recovery, EVERY day! Here is the post... "Often, we create a personal hell not by what we perpetrate but by what we allow to happen. Much of the loneliness and isolation addicts and their families experience results from remaining hidden and silent. The pretense that everything is okay is not only untrue but deadly. Today I choose not to be neutral. I speak about my alcoholism to wage war against the disease that nearly killed me. I speak out about addiction so society cannot say it did not know what was happening. I speak up for treatment and recovery because I know they work in the vast majority of cases. I am not neutral when it comes to addiction because I am fighting for my life..Give me the courage to speak up in a crowd. Let me live the message I was privileged to receive." This, my community members, is a powerful, heartfelt message from a sometimes powerless person. He is waging war on the disease that has taken most of his life's path from him. We as a community sit in front of the TV watching Beverly Hills housewives, American Idol, Jeopardy, whatever, while our children are dealing with their demons alone or with other bad influences. The stigma of this disease needs to be addressed and brought out so we can deal with it. Please, I said it before and I will say it again...Education and awareness can and will destroy this problem. Speak to your kids, don't wait, speak to your principals, superintendents, and anybody else that has to do with your kids on a daily basis to constantly remind your kids of the wrong choices involving drugs and alcohol. The effects on the brain, body growth, mental stability, etc. are an important factor here. A kid on drugs is a kid that is surely on the path to destruction or worse, death. Get involved with your kids and more importantly, get your kid involved in community activities. Please feel free to post on these blogs, positive or negative, it is important that these messages get out.