Addiction is real, and so is recovery. While this article vividly paints the devastation substance use can bring, it also frames people struggling with addiction as doomed—a view that can push them further into shame and isolation. Stigma doesn’t motivate lasting change; hope and a willingness to meet people where they are do.

If you or a loved one is struggling, remember that help is available. Recovery often involves trauma-informed care, accountability, a robust support system, and self-compassion. Rather than focusing on a “narrow window,” let’s focus on the opportunities that remain open. Transformation may be challenging, but it is far from impossible—countless individuals have proven that growth and redemption are attainable, one step at a time.