Starting the Revolution (Part 3)

What can we do to change?

*Raises hand* PICK ME PICK ME!!!

Unfortunately, what needs to change about how we deal with addiction in this culture (and maybe other cultures as well...I can't say I have any idea how addiction is dealt with in China for example, so I am sticking with America), will require nothing short of a revolution.  A complete overhaul of every system, every law, every policy, every text book, etc.  It will take years and it will take a lot of convincing.  We have had drug addict scape-goating in this culture for a long time.  It is very profitable and comforting to have a group of people to be disgusted with. Think about all of the stereotypes: "drug-addicted welfare mothers", "homeless winos", "crack-selling black gangs".....etc., etc. And yes I know sometimes the stereotypes are true.  I just also know that is not the point.

The good news is that the revolution starts very simply.  It is based on one shift in perspective; one idea, now proven by science that if we each believed, that if we each knew to be true, would be enough to start the momentum.  Cultural shifts start small.  We don't just wake up with equality, we start talking about it.  We march, we protest.  Most importantly, we inform every decision and every policy we make based on what we now know to be true.  And what I now know to be true, what I now know to be fact, and what I feel like I need to shout from rooftops is that addiction is a disease. I learned this fact in a very Matthew McConaughey, Time to Kill, closing argument way.  Do you remember that scene?  Where his final line is "now imagine she's white"?  That is how powerful it was for me.  But instead of it being about race, when dealing with addiction, it is about choice vs. disease.

It doesn't seem like much does it.  But think about it.  Imagine if we really, truly thought of addicts as people with a real disease the way we think about people who have diabetes as people who have a real disease.  And then we started to play with what it would look like if we treated people with the disease of diabetes the same as we treat people with the disease of addiction.  And we started to imagine people being sent to jail and prison because their diabetes was not managed well.  Or we started denying other health services to diabetics because they were actively eating donuts,  Or we refused to hire a diabetic because we were afraid they might relapse on sugar, get sick and not show up for work.  Or we took kids away from parents who were struggling with their diabetes to the point that they were not able to properly care for their kids.  And if you think those things cannot happen with diabetes, think again.  We don't hear about them happening because diabetes isn't sensational.  Unmanaged diabetes is ok with us.  Addiction is not.  But if they are both a disease....why not?

Before you argue with me....I m going to ask you to watch something....it will take about an hour of your time.  It is a movie called "Pleasure Unwoven".  It was called to my attention by my mentor, my colleague and my friend, to whom I am forever grateful.  It changed my life. It called me to a higher purpose and I think if you watch it you will better understand what I am babbling about.  I know when I watch it I better understand what I am babbling about.  It starts kind of slow, so please give it a chance before you say: "Seriously, Megan?  Why am I watching some guy drive around Utah (I think it is Utah?), and dress up in old west garb?"  Just give it the full hour.

And know this.  In the part where the gun is to the guy's head?  With the shot in front of him?  Want to know what I thought in my addict brain? When the craving hit?  I thought: "I wonder if I could get the alcohol in fast enough to not feel the bullet's pain". I thought it just for an instant.  Because my disease is well managed right now.  But the thought was still there.  That is how powerful this disease is.

Now imagine it unmanaged.

So you can watch most of Pleasure Unwoven for free on Youtube here (clips 1-8).

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA8F89537FD4C3FD1

However, if your life as ever been touched by addiction....either personally or professionally I would suggest buying a full copy (Amazon).  That way when the revolution comes you know what the hell is going on. When we come back to our regularly scheduled blogging we can talk about what he heck this all means.  If I have figured it out by then.