On the day Amy Winehouse died, my whole body caved in. My warped logic was that if Amy’s manager, her family, her doctors, her bodyguard couldn’t keep her alive, then honestly, what hope did we have? Us or any of the families… who reluctantly tag along on an addict’s grand tour, seeing sights we never wanted to see, meeting people we never would have chosen to sit next to at breakfast, in the cockeyed hope that one day our loved one might come home to us.
Writer Sarah Walker describes the wrenching experience of watching a beloved sister deal with a series of drug addictions. Standing by while a friend, a loved one, a celebrity, or anyone succumbs to addiction can fill us with questions, confusion, and a deep desire to help. If the struggle with drug addiction is so often painful and deadly, why does it happen? What can we understand about addiction that can help us make a difference, and go beyond despair and sadness to offer a more healing response?
We want the best for our loved ones and the future generations who will shape our world. Fortunately, new insights about the role of trauma, emotions, and relationships are leading to more effective approaches for treatment centers and therapists, and a new mindset for many others who want to help.
By better understanding the nature of addiction and looking thoughtfully at what contributes to the formation of addiction, we can respond with more effective attitudes and care. We can help people with addiction and their loved ones find new, positive ways to support the journey to recovery.
These ideas are meant for a general audience, and do not reflect the entirety of the complex understanding and therapeutic approaches that professionals bring to addiction treatment. (To address clinical aspects of addiction treatment, practitioners can schedule professional consultations with us, or see links for clinicians at Resources for Mental Health Care Providers below.)
Drug Chemistry Is Only One Part of the Story of Addiction
The abuse-prevention message many of us grew up with warns that drugs are addictive because of the chemical way they work on the body and brain.
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