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Shifting Perspectives on Overdose: A Policy Reflection for Families
This is the way out of our personal and collective nightmare.
In my two decades of journeying with families through the thickets of addiction, mental, and emotional health challenges, a profound truth has repeatedly emerged: the path to healing is both personal and collective. As we navigate these tumultuous waters, a perspective shift is vital. It’s time to view overdose not as a series of isolated incidents of personal choice but as the outcomes of broader policy decisions. This realization doesn’t absolve individuals of responsibility but rather illuminates the power of context, policy, and societal influence in shaping the terrain of addiction.
Understanding Addiction Beyond Choice
The Nature of Addiction
Addiction, as I’ve learned from countless families, is far more than a series of poor decisions. It’s a complex dance of genetics, environment, trauma, and unmet emotional needs. Addiction often roots in a deep-seated pain, a manifestation of an unhealed wound. It’s a misguided quest for solace, a distorted form of self-medication against the unbearable weight of past hurts, current stresses, and future anxieties.
