Blog

I am a survivor of addiction and have been in remission for almost 10 years.  I am also CEO of Face It TOGETHER, a non-profit organization with a bold vision of a Nation that understands and treats addiction the same as any other chronic disease. 

This is the first in a series of weekly blogs.  I’m going to focus on my story and how it relates to the organization for which I now work.  I am hopeful that it will stimulate discussion.

I choose to describe myself as, “a survivor of addiction…in remission for almost 10 years”, because of what I’ve learned about the myths we perpetuate if we use other words that have become all too familiar.  Research clearly tells us that, “alcoholic, drug addict, substance abuser” and the like are extremely prejudicial, conjuring up inaccurate and damaging perceptions.  In fact, they are words that carry with them generations of baggage, preying on ignorance and stereotypes.  These stigmatized words invoke fear among those who suffer; so much fear that they contribute to the awful statistic that 90% of those who need help in any given year don’t get it.  We are literally scared to death of these awful labels.

It’s time to change the language. Go to Join The Movement and become a part of our effort to remove barriers keeping people from the life-saving help they need.